Everyone is different. We all have different needs, preferences and abilities. Therefore, website design should take into account that not everyone has the same access to information. Web accessibility is the process of making digital content accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical, technical or mental abilities. Many people assume that accessibility limits user interface design. This is not the case. In fact, there are more and more positive examples of good design that is also accessible. With the growing importance of accessibility, there are simply more opportunities for designers to exercise their creativity and create stunning designs that are both functional and visually appealing.
What does the EU want to achieve with the EAA?
The main aim of the law is to ensure that products and services are more accessible for people with disabilities. This means that they can be used without disproportionate difficulties and additional costs.
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Same chances
The EAA aims to ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunities to participate in digital life. This means that products and services must be designed in such a way that they can be used by everyone, regardless of their abilities.
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Harmonisation
The EAA aims to eliminate the fragmentation of regulations in the various EU countries. This makes it easier for companies to comply with accessibility standards in all member states.
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More products and services
The directive aims to increase the availability of accessible products and services on the market. This applies in particular to e-commerce, where accessibility is of crucial importance.
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Participation and integration
The EAA promotes the social participation and integration of people with disabilities and strengthens their social rights.
The WCAG standard sets out a number of success criteria that websites must meet in order to be accessible and understandable to all users. There are 3 levels of conformance: A, AA and AAA. Depending on the number of success criteria a website meets, it is classified in one of these three categories.
Level A is the lowest level and includes only the basics of web accessibility. AA is the intermediate level and requires a site to be a little more thoughtful. AAA is the highest level of compliance and means that a website addresses all aspects of the standard.
It is important for businesses to know which level of compliance they should be aiming for. Obviously, the higher the level, the greater the effort. But even small steps can go a long way to ensuring that the website is accessible to all users.
Conclusion
In summary, web accessibility is an increasingly important issue that requires collaboration between designers, developers, copywriters and content creators. To ensure that a website is accessible, the WCAG 2.0 guidelines should be followed. Although it can sometimes be difficult to follow all the guidelines, it's important that we all do our part to make the web accessible to everyone.
So start thinking about 2025 today
As a company, you officially have until 28 June 2025 to make your digital product accessible or barrier-free. This may seem a long way off at first glance, but you should already be thinking about what accessibility means for you and your digital services. After all, the amount of work required to fulfil these legal requirements is easily underestimated. Proper accessibility requires the involvement of various resources, which should be planned for at an early stage. We can advise and support you here, from content optimisation and technical implementation through to UI design and strategy.
3 reasons to take action now
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Increase reach
By adhering to the guidelines, you improve the user experience for all users, reach more people and can therefore also achieve higher sales.
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Confirmity of law
Strict compliance testing in accordance with WCAG 2.1 or EU standard EN 301 549 is not yet planned, but the direction is clear: in the foreseeable future, companies in the EU will be subject to enforceable obligations. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) shows that non-compliance with the guidelines can cost companies dearly. In the first half of 2018 alone, over 1,000 lawsuits were filed at federal level. In 2021, there were already more than 4,000 lawsuits. Protecting yourself can therefore offer protection and save you money.
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Save costs
Integrating accessibility into the design and development process from the outset is more cost-effective than making adjustments later on. By incorporating accessibility guidelines from the outset, you not only save money, but also increase efficiency. You reduce the need for subsequent changes and adaptations, which can be expensive and time-consuming.
Design systems and Figma Variables: an opportunity for greater accessibility
Compliance with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is not only a legal obligation, but also an opportunity to improve the user experience. Design systems offer a structured approach to integrating accessibility into the design process. Whether a new or existing design system, in combination with Figma Variables, the entire process towards accessibility is significantly facilitated and improved.
Design systems: A fundamental resource for accessibility
Design systems are a valuable ally in the implementation of the EAA guidelines. They enable the seamless integration of accessible design elements and guidelines throughout the design process. With coherent and consistent design principles, designers and developers can develop accessible solutions right from the start. This saves time and effort and ensures that EAA requirements are consistently implemented in all of a company's digital products and services.
Focus on accessibility: the role of Figma Variables
Subsequent adjustments to existing products are even easier to implement thanks to Figma Variables in the design system. This innovative feature enables the quick adaptation of colours, spacings and languages on a system-wide level. Variables can be used to create accessible themes, for example by simply integrating colour alternatives with higher contrast. This minimises effort and eliminates the risk of inconsistent manual changes. The combination of design systems and Figma Variables enables companies to efficiently integrate EAA requirements into the design process and implement accessible design principles quickly and across all channels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the European Accessibility Act is much more than just a legal obligation. It opens up the opportunity to improve the digital experience for all users and at the same time strengthen the reputation of every organisation. Thanks to Design Systems and Figma Variables, organisations have a powerful way to easily integrate these requirements into their processes while saving time and resources.
As TOWA, however, we want to take a holistic view of the topic, as there are many more measures that can help to make your digital presence accessible. Clear layouts, easy-to-read fonts and user-friendly navigation are just the first step. Keyboard operability is also a decisive factor, as digital products should be designed in such a way that they can be operated without a mouse. This is particularly relevant for people with motor impairments who may be dependent on a keyboard or alternative input devices. In addition, developers can contribute to accessibility by making websites screen-reader friendly, e.g. by using "alt" tags for images and "title" tags for links. Multimedia content should be captioned and transcribed to ensure usability for people with hearing impairments.
A strategic approach to promoting accessibility not only strengthens legal certainty, but also increases user satisfaction and reach, which ultimately leads to a competitive advantage. With the European Accessibility Act coming into force in less than two years, it is up to each organisation to make the most of this time. TOWA is here to help you ensure that your organisation realises the full potential of web accessibility.
Our Accessibility Services for your digital presence
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Accessibility Audit
Our experts will analyse your accessibility status quo and develop an action plan, which we will of course also implement together with you.
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Conception & development
We design and develop your digital applications according to accessibility standards for an inclusive user experience.
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Design Systems
Do you have an existing design system? We optimise and supplement your individual design system to ensure a barrier-free and consistent user experience.
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Accessible technology
Our experienced developers create accessible functions and interfaces that fulfil WCAG guidelines and best practices.
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Accessible multimedia production
We help you to create accessible videos and multimedia content that contain subtitles, transcripts and other accessible elements.
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Accessible content creation
Our experts support you in creating accessible content that is accessible to all users, including alternative texts and structured headings.
Inclusion begins with a conversation