The EU Accessibility Act is in effect. Is your business compliant?

Introduction

The EU Accessibility Act will mandate that businesses of all sizes must ensure their websites, mobile apps, and digital services are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.
While the deadline is only days away there will be a transition period to give businesses the chance to comply with the new accessibility requirements.

What is Digital Accessibility?

Digital accessibility refers to the design of websites, apps, online tools and interfaces so they are usable by people with a range of disabilities, including hearing, visual, cognitive and physical impairments.

Who does the Act apply to?

The following digital products & services fall within scope:*

• Computers and operating systems
• ATMs, ticketing and check-in machines
• Telephones and smartphones
• TV equipment related to digital television services
• Telephony services and related equipment
• Audiovisual media services, such as television broadcast and related consumer equipment
• Services related to air, bus, rail and waterborne passenger transport
• Banking services
• eBooks
• eCommerce

*There are exemptions. Companies need to verify that they fall under the scope of the legislation.

How to check if you are compliant?

Understand the accessibility standards required and decide what compliance level you want to meet.

1. EAA requires digital products and services to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
2. This includes keyboard navigation, readable text, screen reader compatibility, and more.
3. Decide if you want to work towards AA or AAA standards.

Conduct an Accessibility Audit

1. Automated tools are available to provide a quick overview of issues your website may face. These tools do not catch all issues, manual testing is required for full compliance.
2. Manual testing requires testers or developers to check keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, image alt text, and other elements embedded within the code of your website.
3. Ideally you would involve real users in the testing who use assistive technology regularly for practical insights as well as tool checks.

Generate a Report

1. Document the issues found, their severity level and suggested fixes.
2. This is helpful for legal compliance, proving good faith and briefing whoever is going to fix it for you!
3. Add an Accessibility Statement to your website – this should outline your known issues and contact information for user feedback.

Fix the Issues

1. Engage with your/a development team or accessibility consultant to implement the fixes and retest updated areas.
2. A second audit should take place after fixes are completed and a new report generated.

Maintain Accessibility

1. Schedule annual audits (minimum recommended).
2. Build accessibility into your design and development process.
3. Ensure your team are familiar with accessibility standards for when they update the website or social channels.

Some helpful advice

No automated tool will catch everything but it’s a good starting point.

No accessibility tool that promises to make your site accessible by installing a plugin or program is going to achieve the same as applying proper fixes.

There are plenty of free options out there for getting an overview of your accessibility status if you do not want to engage support. Be wary about opportunistic tools or businesses offering substandard audits and solutions (we would never!).