Website Accessibility Guide 2025: Complete WCAG & EAA Compliance

What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and why does it matter?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is EU Directive 2019/882, which becomes enforceable on June 28, 2025. It requires businesses to make their digital products and services accessible to people with disabilities across all EU member states.

Who is affected?

- E-commerce websites (B2C)
- Online banking & financial services
- Telecommunications services
- E-book platforms & readers
- Transport & ticketing services

Consequences of non-compliance

- Fines up to 100,000+ EUR
- Legal action from competitors
- Consumer protection lawsuits
- Reputational damage
- Exclusion from public contracts

1.1 Text Alternatives

All images have descriptive alt text

Screen readers announce this - describe the content and function of the image

Decorative images have empty alt attributes (alt="")

Purely decorative images should be ignored by screen readers

Complex images have long descriptions

Charts, graphs, and infographics need detailed text descriptions

Icon buttons have accessible names

Use aria-label or visually hidden text for icon-only buttons

CAPTCHAs have accessible alternatives

Provide audio CAPTCHA or other accessible verification methods

1.2 Time-based Media

Videos have synchronized captions

Essential for deaf users - also helpful for non-native speakers

Audio content has transcripts

Provide written version of all spoken content

Videos have audio descriptions

Narration of visual content for blind users (Level AA)

Live video has captions

Real-time captioning for live broadcasts and streams

Sign language interpretation available

For pre-recorded content where applicable (Level AAA)

1.3 Adaptable

Content structure conveyed through proper markup

Use semantic HTML elements (headings, lists, tables) correctly

Reading sequence is meaningful when linearized

DOM order should match visual order for screen readers

Instructions don't rely solely on sensory characteristics

Avoid "click the red button" or "see the graph on the right"

Content works in both portrait and landscape orientations

Don't restrict display orientation unless essential (WCAG 2.1)

Input purpose can be programmatically determined

Use autocomplete attributes for personal data fields (WCAG 2.1)

Recommended Testing Tools

Automated Testing

WAVE - wave.webaim.org (Browser Extension)
axe DevTools - Browser Extension by Deque
Lighthouse - Built into Chrome DevTools
Pa11y - CLI Tool for CI/CD integration
Accessibility Insights - Microsoft (Windows)

Manual Testing

NVDA - Free screen reader (Windows)
VoiceOver - Built into macOS/iOS
JAWS - Commercial screen reader (Windows)
Keyboard Navigation - Tab through the entire site
Contrast Checker - WebAIM Contrast Checker

Testing Tip

Automated tools can only find about 30-40% of accessibility issues. Manual testing with keyboard navigation and screen readers is essential for comprehensive coverage. Always test critical user journeys like checkout, forms, and navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is EU Directive 2019/882, which comes into effect on June 28, 2025. It requires businesses to make their digital products and services accessible to people with disabilities. E-commerce websites, banking services, and electronic communications are particularly affected.

What WCAG level must I comply with?

Under the EAA, websites must meet at least WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This includes requirements for perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness of web content. Level AAA is recommended but not required.

Who is affected by the European Accessibility Act?

The EAA affects B2C companies with e-commerce websites, financial service providers, telecommunications providers, and providers of audiovisual media services. Microenterprises (fewer than 10 employees and less than 2 million EUR turnover) may be partially exempt.

What are the four WCAG principles?

The four WCAG principles (POUR) are: 1) Perceivable - information must be presentable in ways users can perceive, 2) Operable - interface components must be operable by all users, 3) Understandable - information and operation must be understandable, 4) Robust - content must be robust enough for various assistive technologies.

What are the penalties for non-compliance with EAA?

Penalties for non-compliance vary by EU member state but can include fines up to 100,000 EUR or more, legal action from consumer protection organizations, competitor lawsuits, reputational damage, and exclusion from public contracts.

How do I get started with accessibility?

Start with an accessibility audit using automated tools like WAVE or axe DevTools. Then conduct manual testing with keyboard navigation and a screen reader. Prioritize fixing critical issues first (navigation, forms, images). Use this checklist to track your progress systematically.

Website Accessibility Guide 2025

What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and why does it matter?

Who is affected?

Consequences of non-compliance

1. Perceivable

1.1 Text Alternatives

1.2 Time-based Media

1.3 Adaptable

1.4 Distinguishable

2. Operable

2.1 Keyboard Accessible

2.2 Enough Time

2.3 Seizures and Physical Reactions

2.4 Navigable

2.5 Input Modalities (WCAG 2.1)

3. Understandable

3.1 Readable

3.2 Predictable

3.3 Input Assistance

4. Robust

4.1 Compatible

Recommended Testing Tools

Automated Testing

Manual Testing

Testing Tip

Frequently Asked Questions

EAA Compliance by June 2025?

Senorit

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