The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is one of the key drivers of change in the European Union business operating landscape. It calls for closer attention and development of organizational accessibility measures for ethical imperatives and compliance with the law’s stringent demands.
A Broad Mandate for Diversity Practices
EAA applies in scope to virtually all companies doing business within the EU, with the exception of very small enterprises, of course. In its wide applicability, one attests to the EU’s commitment to making sure that standards of accessibility are of major concern in all areas and industries.
Upon the adoption of the EAA in the year 2019 , the EU gave all its 27 member countries the compliance timeframe and mandated that by June of the year 2025, these member countries must be in line with the standardized practices.
Increasing Punishments
The financial penalties for non-compliance are significant and most disparate across member states. For example, fines can be up to 60,000 euros in Ireland, or range between 90,000 to 900,000 euros in the Netherlands. That is how seriously the EU views a failure in accessibility; as such, compliance is not only a legal imperative but, indeed, an essential aspect of corporate governance.
Standards and Implementation Strategies
The key cornerstone for compliance with the EAA is built around the EN 301 549 standard , which includes the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. It sets a level of expectation uniformly throughout the European Union and extends the audience of this guideline from the public sector to private businesses. This broad reach normalizes considerations of accessibility as basic to the purpose of business operations.
Conducting a European Accessibility Act Audit
Companies must make accessibility part of their workflow and the development of digital products. This will be implemented in three key ways:
- Increased internal awareness
- Detailed assessment of the accessibility of their current product offerings
- Established strong and cross-functional accessibility practices
Executing Implementation Steps
Below are some practical ways in which the business can leverage compliance with the EAA . First, companies should conduct an assessment of their products to measure their existing degree of accessibility. After doing so, through consultation with specialists in accessibility, the company can be expected to receive targeted advice and action plans to improve very exacting shortcomings.
In addition, digital accessibility platforms can also be effectively used to help achieve and maintain such compliance. They provide ongoing monitoring, support, and tools to meet changing requirements around accessibility.
Putting It Into Perspective
Imagine a large retailer operating in numerous EU countries. This retailer will carry out a full audit of their online shopping platform to make sure it meets the EAA standards. During the audit, they may find problems that make it difficult for visually challenged consumers to use the checkout process smoothly. To fix these accessibility issues, the retailer will seek out accessibility experts who can implement alternative options to assist the user such as screen readers and keyboard compatibility. These improvements increase the level of adherence to EAA and decrease their exposure to potential fines.
The Deadline Approaches
The European Accessibility Act is setting new standards of inclusivity within the European business landscape. The EAA will set uniform standards for accessibility and will thereby change business dealings and the very underpinning principles of corporate responsibility across the continent.
As the 2025 deadline approaches, the Act poses a challenge as well as an opportunity for businesses to redefine their commitment to a new paradigm of inclusivity and equitable access. For assistance implementing accessibility within your organization, contact the experts at TestPros today .
