How to Prepare Your Website for the European Accessibility Act
Michelle Campbell | May 22, 2025 | 5 mins
What You Need to Know About the EAA
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is coming into effect in June, and while it is EU legislation, UK-based businesses offering digital products or services to consumers in the EU will be required to comply with its accessibility requirements, and it's set to have a significant impact on how we experience digital products and services - in 2023, 96% of website homepages visited did not meet accessibility standards.
The goal is to create a more inclusive digital environment where everyone can participate equally. As a Frontend Developer, I'm particularly interested in how this act will shape the way we build and interact with websites and applications. This article will break down the essentials, providing practical insights and guidance to help you understand the key requirements and how they might affect you.
Understanding the EAA
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) aims to make a wide range of products and services more accessible to people with disabilities across the European Union. This includes websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, and more.
How Does This Affect Digital Experiences?
The EAA requires conformance with accessibility standards aligned with the EU’s harmonised accessibility framework, primarily based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA for digital content. Let's dive into some specific areas:
WCAG Compliance: The Core of EAA
The EAA leans heavily on WCAG. Here are some key WCAG criteria that are important for creating accessible digital experiences:
Alternative Text for Images: Provide descriptive alt attributes for images that convey meaning or are essential to understanding the content. If an image is purely decorative, it should have an empty alt attribute (alt="") or be implemented using CSS background images. This ensures that screen readers ignore decorative images and focus on meaningful content.
<img src="meaningful-image.png" alt="Description of the image"> <img src="decorative-image.png" alt="">
Color Contrast: Ensure sufficient color contrast between text and background. Tools like WebAIM's Color Contrast Checker can help you verify compliance.
Keyboard Accessibility: Make sure all interactive elements can be accessed and operated using a keyboard. This is crucial for users who cannot use a mouse.
Semantic HTML: Building a Solid Foundation
Using semantic HTML elements correctly is fundamental to creating accessible websites. Semantic elements provide structure and meaning to content, making it easier for assistive technologies to understand and present the information to users.
Use <article>, <nav>, <aside>, <header>, and <footer> elements to define the different sections of your page.
Use headings (<h1> to <h6>) to create a clear hierarchy of content. Remember to use only one <h1> element per page, typically for the main title. Use <h2> elements for major sections, and <h3> to <h6> for subsections within those sections.
ARIA Attributes: Enhancing Accessibility
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes can be used to enhance the accessibility of dynamic web content and custom UI components. ARIA provides additional information and context to assistive technologies, making it possible to create complex, accessible interfaces.
For example, use aria-label to provide a descriptive label for elements that don't have visible text.
<button aria-label="Close dialog" onclick="closeDialog()">X</button>
Keyboard Accessibility: Ensuring Full Control
Keyboard accessibility is a must. Users should be able to navigate and interact with all elements on a website using only the keyboard.
Implement proper focus management to ensure that the focus is always visible and predictable.
Use the tabindex attribute to control the order in which elements receive focus.
Provide visual focus indicators to show users which element is currently focused.
<label for="name">Name:</label> <input type="text" id="name" name="name">
Forms and Input Fields: Making Data Entry Accessible
Accessible forms are essential for allowing all users to submit information.
Provide clear and descriptive labels for all input fields using the <label> element.
Use appropriate input types (e.g., email, tel, date) to provide semantic meaning and enable browser-specific features.
Provide helpful error messages that are displayed in a clear and accessible manner.
Testing and Validation: Ensuring Accessibility
Testing is a critical part of the accessibility process. Use a combination of automated and manual testing techniques, along with assistive technologies, to identify and address accessibility issues. Thorough testing helps ensure a more inclusive user experience.
Use automated tools to identify common accessibility errors.
Perform manual testing using a keyboard and screen reader to experience the website as a user with a disability.
Involve users with disabilities in the testing process - The best way to ensure your website is truly accessible is to have it tested by people who rely on assistive technologies and have a deep understanding of accessibility needs. Their feedback can provide invaluable insights that automated and internal testing might miss.
Impact on Digital Product Development
The EAA may require changes to how digital products are developed and maintained.
Integrate accessibility testing into the development process.
Consider accessibility from the outset of a project, rather than as an afterthought.
Provide training to teams involved in creating digital products and services.
Key Takeaways
Compliance with WCAG Standards: The EAA requires digital products and services to meet accessibility requirements defined in EU harmonised standards. For websites and mobile apps, these standards are closely aligned with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, covering areas such as alternative text for images, sufficient colour contrast, and keyboard accessibility.
Semantic HTML for Accessibility: Using semantic HTML elements (like <article>, <nav>, and heading tags) correctly improves the accessibility of content for assistive technologies.
Enhanced Accessibility with ARIA Attributes: ARIA attributes help improve accessibility for dynamic content and complex UI components, providing context to assistive technologies.
Keyboard Accessibility: Websites must ensure all interactive elements are operable using a keyboard, including proper focus management and clear visual focus indicators.
Dynamic Content and Updates: Ensure that dynamically updated content is accessible to users with disabilities.
Comprehensive Testing: Accessibility testing should involve both automated tools and manual techniques, including feedback from users with disabilities to ensure practical accessibility.
Tools and Resources
Here are some useful tools and resources for those who want to learn more about web accessibility:
Need help making your digital products accessible and EAA-compliant? Our behavioural science and UX/UI design experts at LAB can guide you through the process, ensuring your digital experiences are inclusive and user-friendly. Get in touch to see how we can support your accessibility journey.