Understanding the European Accessibility Act
In 2019, the European Union made a big step forward to increase inclusion - they voted for the European Accessibility Act. With the European Accessibility Act, the EU aims to create a more accessible EU market by ensuring that products and services are designed and provided in a way that is usable by all, regardless of their abilities. More specifically, it requires companies operating within, or conducting business with the EU to comply with the WCAG 2.1 AA level standards.
This move marks a bold chapter in the realm of accessible design, with the deadline of June 28, 2025 for companies to comply. In this article, we delve into the essence of this act and its importance for accessibility in products and services across Europe.
Global disability rights
Thanks to the hard work of numerous advocates and officials, more and more people have started to support the rights of individuals with impairments. After many efforts, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was introduced at the United Nations in New York in 2006. It introduced pivotal concepts to all its members, transforming the perception of accessibility:
- We should view disability not as an individual's condition but as something caused by the environment.
- We should consider impairments in certain areas as a natural aspect of human diversity, and we should integrate the varying access needs these impairments produce into our societies.
In essence, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities shares a vision of a society where the right support enables people with impairments to participate. Building on this vision, the important role of improving technology is clear.
Technology’s role in supporting people with impairments
Technology has changed how we think about accessibility, highlighting the issues faced by people with impairments. This led to new inventions as early as the 19th century that improved their quality of life.
Ranging from semantic innovations like the Braille alphabet, introduced in the early 19th century, to today's sophisticated screen readers, technology has served as a powerful equalizer for individuals with various access needs.
Many of us remember when the internet was not the main way to get information. Most information was in print, like in books and newspapers. Sharing information through print was limited to a single way, but did have features like clear fonts and good contrast that helped some people read easier.
Then came the web. The web is programmed, meaning that content can be shown in many different ways depending on the user's access needs and device setup.
The web has made the vast majority of the world's information accessible through multi-sensory experiences, making it perceivable by all, including those with impairments. Observing how websites were designed in 1994, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) identified best practices for inclusivity. They established the first set of guidelines, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which have continued to evolve and mature over time.
A gap to bridge
Although the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have been published for over 30 years, many companies are yet to adhere to the guidelines. The following statistics underscore this discrepancy:
- 94% of the largest eCommerce websites do not meet the WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements, according to the Bureau of Internet Accessibility. Source
- 94.8% of home pages have detectable WCAG 2.0 failures, indicating a widespread gap in accessibility, as reported by WebAIM. Source
- 79.1% of these WCAG 2.0 failures stem from issues with low contrast, WebAIM notes. Source
With the European Accessibility Act enforced since June 2025, these statistics should improve. Launched in 2019, the act requires all European Union members to implement laws and regulations to enforce accessibility for products and services.
- By 2022, each member country had to propose laws to act on the directive.
- By June 2025, these laws came into effect.
Envisioning an accessible world
The act applies to products and services identified as most important to people with impairments and with the most diverging requirements across member states.
It applies to hardware as well as software.
Specifically, the law will be enforced on products such as:
- Computers and related devices
- E-books
- Online stores and e-commerce platforms
- Banking kiosks, ticketing services, and check-in machines
- Television devices and digital TV services
- Telecommunication services, including apps, websites of providers, and essential communication services
- Audiovisual media services, such as Netflix and Spotify
- Transport services, accessible both online and offline, like ticket machines, apps, and websites
- All financial services, including online banking
This list is just the starting point - accessibility is expected to be required for all types of services in the future. With 80 million individuals living with impairments within the EU (source), ensuring greater accessibility of products and services through unified regulations will benefit individuals, companies, and society altogether.
Benefits for companies and individuals
The differences in policies among member states previously acted as a barrier to the trade of products and services across Europe. Standardizing accessibility regulations reduces production costs and encourages companies to enter the markets of different EU countries.
For individuals with various access needs, the main advantage lies in them having an increased quality of life and being able to live independently. As the EU's population ages and the number of people with various access needs rises, enabling better participation in society and the digital world benefits everyone.
Consider the time saved, the job opportunities created, and the economic boost from the increased purchasing power of 80 million individuals with various access needs. Most importantly, think about the positive impact on the lives of many, fostering greater empowerment and self-reliance than ever before.
Highlighting the Potential:
- Globally, people with disabilities account for over half a trillion dollars in spending (Usablenet).
- It's estimated that for every dollar spent on accessibility improvements, $100 is returned in value (Forrester).
Moving forward
If the WCAG or web accessibility seems daunting, don't worry: dualoop is dedicated to building products and services that serve both businesses and people, aiming to include all types of users.
To support companies in getting compliant with the European Accessibility Act, dualoop launched an Introduction to Accessibility training for designers, PMs, and all others involved in building products.
You can find more information here!
