Web Accessibility 2025
The Complete Guide to WCAG 2.2 & EAA Compliance

Digital accessibility is no longer optional - it's becoming law. With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and its national implementations across EU member states, businesses must make their digital offerings accessible to everyone. This comprehensive guide shows you what you need to know and how to achieve WCAG 2.2 compliance.

European Accessibility Act: What's Coming in 2025

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU directive establishing uniform accessibility requirements for products and services across all member states. It affects a wide range of digital products and services, requiring them to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Affected Digital Products and Services

• E-Commerce - Online shops and booking platforms
• Banking Services - Online banking, payment terminals
• Telecommunications - Websites, apps, messaging services
• Transport - Booking systems, schedule information
• E-Books - Digital books and reading devices
• Computers & Operating Systems - Hardware and software

Timeline and Deadlines

WCAG 2.2: The International Standard for Web Accessibility

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 represent the globally recognized standard for accessible web content. The guidelines are built on four foundational principles, known as POUR:

WCAG 2.2 Conformance Levels

WCAG defines three conformance levels. The EAA requires at minimum Level AA:

• Level A - Basic accessibility (30 criteria)
• Level AA - Standard accessibility (20 additional criteria) - Legal requirement
• Level AAA - Enhanced accessibility (28 additional criteria)

New Criteria in WCAG 2.2

WCAG 2.2 (released October 2023) introduces important new criteria:

Legal Requirements and Penalties

The EAA and its national implementations include significant penalties for non-compliance. Businesses should take implementation seriously.

Potential Consequences of Non-Compliance

Documentation Requirements

Businesses must be able to demonstrate their digital products meet requirements:

• Declaration of Conformity - Formal confirmation of EAA compliance
• Technical Documentation - Evidence of accessibility measures
• Accessibility Statement - Publicly available statement on the website
• Feedback Mechanism - Way for users to report accessibility barriers

WCAG 2.2 Checklist for Your Website

Use this comprehensive checklist to assess your website's accessibility status:

Perceivable

Operable

Understandable

Robust

Technical Implementation: Code Examples

Here are practical code examples for the most important accessibility requirements:

Semantic HTML

Use native HTML elements instead of generic divs:

<!-- Wrong -->
<div class="header">
  <div class="nav">...</div>
</div>
<div class="content">...</div>
<div class="footer">...</div>

<!-- Correct -->
<header>
  <nav aria-label="Main navigation">...</nav>
</header>
<main>
  <article>...</article>
</main>
<footer>...</footer>

Accessible Images

<!-- Informative image -->
<img
  src="team-meeting.jpg"
  alt="Five team members discussing a project at a whiteboard"
/>

<!-- Decorative image -->
<img src="decorative-line.svg" alt="" role="presentation" />

<!-- Complex image with detailed description -->
<figure>
  <img
    src="sales-chart.png"
    alt="Sales growth 2024"
    aria-describedby="chart-description"
  />
  <figcaption id="chart-description">
    The chart shows revenue growth from EUR 2.1M in Q1
    to EUR 3.4M in Q4, with the strongest growth in
    Q3 (+40%).
  </figcaption>
</figure>

Accessible Forms

<form>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="email">
      Email Address
      <span aria-hidden="true" class="required">*</span>
    </label>
    <input
      type="email"
      id="email"
      name="email"
      required
      aria-required="true"
      aria-describedby="email-hint email-error"
      aria-invalid="false"
    />
    <p id="email-hint" class="hint">
      We only use your email for this inquiry.
    </p>
    <p id="email-error" class="error" role="alert" hidden>
      Please enter a valid email address.
    </p>
  </div>

  <button type="submit">
    Submit
    <span class="visually-hidden">contact form</span>
  </button>
</form>

Skip Link for Keyboard Users

<body>
  <a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">
    Skip to main content
  </a>
  <header>...</header>
  <main id="main-content" tabindex="-1">
    ...
  </main>
</body>

<style>
.skip-link {
  position: absolute;
  top: -40px;
  left: 0;
  padding: 8px 16px;
  background: #000;
  color: #fff;
  z-index: 100;
}

.skip-link:focus {
  top: 0;
}
</style>

Accessible Buttons and Links

<!-- Button with icon -->
<button
  type="button"
  aria-label="Open menu"
  aria-expanded="false"
  aria-controls="main-menu"
>
  <svg aria-hidden="true">...</svg>
</button>

<!-- Link opening in new tab -->
<a
  href="https://example.com"
  target="_blank"
  rel="noopener noreferrer"
>
  External Resource
  <span class="visually-hidden">(opens in new tab)</span>
</a>

<!-- Ensure minimum click size -->
<style>
button, a {
  min-width: 44px;
  min-height: 44px;
  display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}
</style>

ARIA Live Regions for Dynamic Content

<!-- Polite announcement (waits for pause) -->
<div aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true">
  Your search returned 42 results.
</div>

<!-- Immediate announcement (interrupts) -->
<div role="alert" aria-live="assertive">
  Error: Connection was interrupted.
</div>

<!-- Status message -->
<div role="status" aria-live="polite">
  Item added to cart.
</div>

Testing Tools and Resources

Use these tools to test your website's accessibility:

Automated Testing Tools

Screen Readers for Manual Testing

• NVDA (Windows) - Free, widely used screen reader
• VoiceOver (macOS/iOS) - Built into Apple devices
• JAWS (Windows) - Professional screen reader (paid)
• TalkBack (Android) - Built into Android

Contrast Checkers

• WebAIM Contrast Checker - Online tool for color contrast testing
• Colour Contrast Analyser - Desktop app with eyedropper function
• Stark - Figma/Sketch plugin for designers

Best Practices for Sustainable Accessibility

1. Plan Accessibility from the Start

Integrate accessibility into every step of your development process - from concept through design to implementation. Retrofitting is often more expensive and time-consuming.

2. Build a Design System with Accessible Components

Create reusable components that are already accessible. This ensures consistent accessibility across all pages.

3. Integrate Automated Tests in CI/CD

Add tools like axe-core or Pa11y to your build pipeline to catch regressions early.

4. Conduct Regular Manual Audits

Automated tools only find about 30-40% of accessibility issues. Supplement with regular manual testing using screen readers and keyboard.

5. Involve Real Users

Conduct user testing with people who have disabilities. Their experiences are invaluable for truly accessible websites.

6. Train Your Team

Ensure designers, developers, and content creators understand accessibility basics. Provide regular training.

Step-by-Step: Making Your Website Accessible

Follow this proven approach to achieve WCAG 2.2 compliance for your website:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion: Accessibility is Both Opportunity and Obligation

Implementing web accessibility is more than a legal obligation - it's an opportunity to make your digital offerings available to everyone. With over 87 million people with disabilities in the EU and an aging population, you're opening up a significant market.

Start your implementation now. The June 28, 2025 deadline is closer than you think, and thorough adaptation takes time. With the information and resources in this guide, you have everything you need to get started.

Need help? Our certified accessibility experts are here to assist - from initial analysis through technical implementation to EAA compliance documentation.