Here’s your essential guide to navigating EAA compliance.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is in effect across Europe starting 28 June. What does this mean for communication professionals?
Well, if you’re reading this while frantically googling “accessibility compliance” with your morning coffee, you’re not alone. The EAA fundamentally changes how we create and deliver digital communications across Europe. Think of it as the moment when accessibility moved from “nice to have” to “legally required to have” – with enforcement authorities now empowered to issue penalties that are “effective, proportionate, and dissuasive” (which is EU-speak for “expensive enough to get your attention”).
For communication professionals, this isn’t just another regulatory hurdle to jump over. The EAA requires that websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, and even email communications be accessible to people with disabilities. That beautifully designed campaign landing page? It needs to work with screen readers. That clever interactive infographic? It better be navigable by keyboard. That urgent email blast? Alt text for images is no longer optional.
But what if you work for smaller organizations?
While microenterprises (under 10 employees) are technically exempt from EAA requirements, smart communication professionals in smaller organizations are embracing accessibility anyway. Why? Because accessible design is simply better design. When you create content that works for people with disabilities, you often end up with content that works better for everyone. Plus, your clients, partners, or audience members don’t check your employee count before deciding whether your content should be usable, they just expect it to work.
And let’s be practical: if you’re planning to grow beyond 10 employees, or if you work with larger organizations, or if you ever want to compete for contracts with companies that are EAA-compliant, accessibility skills are becoming as essential as knowing how to use design software. It’s career future-proofing disguised as regulatory compliance.
The stakes are high: 135 million people with disabilities across the EU (UserWay, 2024) represent a massive audience, and non-compliance could result in significant penalties, legal challenges, and reputational damage. But more than avoiding risks, EAA compliance opens doors to previously underserved markets and demonstrates genuine commitment to inclusivity.
The DO'S: your compliance essentials
- Conduct urgent accessibility audits of all websites, mobile apps, and digital platforms
- Use automated tools as a starting point, but prioritize manual testing for complex accessibility barriers
- Focus on WCAG 2.1 AA compliance as your baseline standard
- Document current accessibility gaps and prioritize fixes based on impact and feasibility
- Prepare comprehensive accessibility notices in both written and oral formats
- Clearly explain how your services meet EAA requirements
- Make these statements publicly available and easily findable
- Include contact information for accessibility-related feedback and complaints
- Enable keyboard navigation across all digital touchpoints
- Ensure screen reader compatibility for all content
- Add text-to-speech functionality where appropriate
- Implement proper color contrast ratios (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text)
- Provide alternative text for all images and media
- Create internal procedures for maintaining accessibility standards
- Train content creators on accessible design principles
- Implement accessibility checks in your content approval workflow
- Designate accessibility champions within your communication team
- Consider accessibility from the initial planning stages, not as an afterthought
- Use clear, simple language in all communications
- Provide multiple formats for important information
- Ensure all interactive elements are usable by people with various disabilities
- Remember that EAA applies to all EU consumer-facing services, regardless of company location
- Understand that serving EU customers means following EU accessibility rules
- Coordinate with legal teams to understand enforcement variations across member states
The DON'TS: Critical mistakes to avoid
DON’T Rely solely on accessibility overlays
(Accessibility overlays are pieces of JavaScript code that companies can add to their websites to automatically attempt to fix accessibility issues. Think of popular tools like AudioEye, accessiBe, or UserWay. When you visit a website with an overlay, you might see a little accessibility icon in the corner that opens a menu with options.)
- Automated accessibility widgets don’t guarantee EAA compliance
- The European Disability Forum has specifically warned against over-reliance on overlays
- Use overlays only as part of a comprehensive accessibility strategy, never as a complete solution
- Focus on fixing underlying accessibility issues rather than applying surface-level patches
DON’T Ignore mobile accessibility
- Mobile apps must meet the same accessibility standards as websites
- Don’t assume desktop accessibility automatically translates to mobile
- Test thoroughly on actual mobile devices with assistive technologies
- Ensure touch targets are appropriately sized and spaced
DON’T Postpone compliance planning
- With 28 June approaching rapidly, delay is not an option
- Don’t assume you can implement comprehensive accessibility changes overnight
- Avoid the mistake of treating this as a “quick fix” rather than systematic change
- Don’t wait for competitors to move first, be proactive
DON’T Forget about content formats
- Don’t create inaccessible PDFs, videos without captions, or audio without transcripts
- Avoid using color alone to convey important information
- Don’t implement CAPTCHA systems without accessible alternatives
- Never auto-play media with sound
DON’T Neglect staff training
- Don’t assume your team understands accessibility requirements without proper education
- Avoid siloing accessibility knowledge with just one team member
- Don’t skip training on assistive technologies and how users actually interact with your content
- Never underestimate the learning curve for implementing accessible practices
DON’T Misunderstand the scope
- Don’t think microenterprises (under 10 employees) are the only exempt organizations
- Avoid assuming legacy content is automatically grandfathered
- Don’t forget that email marketing, messaging services, and mobile communications all fall under EAA
- Never assume B2B communications are exempt if they’re consumer-facing
The business case beyond compliance
EAA compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties, it’s about equity and making sure that everyone — including the one in four EU citizens living with a disability — can access, understand, and engage with the world around them.
Accessibility is what belonging looks like, in practice.
For your business, it’s also about market expansion and brand differentiation. Organizations that embrace accessibility often discover improved user experience for ALL users, enhanced SEO performance, and increased customer loyalty.
With 101 million people over 16 in the EU having some form of disability (Bird & Bird, 2025), accessible communication opens significant market opportunities. Forward-thinking communication professionals are viewing EAA compliance as a competitive advantage rather than a regulatory burden.
In other words
The EAA may be a legal directive, but it’s also an opportunity. To do better. To reach further. To align your communications with the values you say you stand for.
Because inclusive communication isn’t just good ethics. It’s good business. It improves usability for everyone, strengthens brand trust, and sends a clear message: You belong here. And who will not appreciate that?#
References
-
Bird & Bird. (2025). A guide to navigating the European Accessibility Act for online retailers, service providers and platforms. Bird & Bird.
UserWay. (2024, August 6). The European Accessibility Act 2025: Planning for 2025. UserWay Blog.
