Guidelines in Preparation for the New Accessibility Act

On June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) concerning the accessibility of products, websites, and other services will come into effect. As a company, you may face penalties if the legal requirements are not met. To align with the law and avoid excluding users, we recommend using the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is an international standard for creating web content that is accessible to everyone, regardless of disability. It includes a wide range of guidelines to support accessibility, and in this article, we will walk through some of them. In addition to its levels, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are also built on four core principles of web accessibility.

• Robust

• Perceivable

• Operable

• Understandable

These principles provide a solid foundation for assessing your compliance with accessibility standards.

Robust

To ensure inclusion for all users, the website should be accessible through various browsers and support the use of different assistive technologies.

A screen reader is a tool that reads out text and visual content, and is used by people with visual impairments. To include users with visual or motor disabilities who rely solely on a keyboard or voice control, components should be described based on their function, and the page structure should be well organized. For example, use the button element in the code where a button is intended.

To validate this, you can use validation tools such as the Markup Validation Service.

Perceivable

Ensuring that users can perceive elements and understand the structure of content is essential. Visual media should include verbal descriptions, color contrast must be adequate, and audio content should be clear and distinguishable. These aspects are especially important for users who rely on assistive technologies.

The content on the page should be structured in a way that makes it easy for users to navigate with a screen reader, for both visual elements and text. If the structure is lacking, it can be difficult for users to find their way around. Keep in mind that repeating the same text for multiple clickable elements can make it impossible for someone who cannot see the layout to distinguish between them.

Alt text is used to describe visual media so that screen readers can convey the visual message. Without alt text, the image cannot be perceived by users with visual impairments.

To check whether the contrast ratio between text and background meets the standard minimum of 4.5:1, there are various tools available. However, there are exceptions—such as graphs and other visual elements—which only require a contrast ratio of 3:1. Elements that are layered or placed within each other should also have sufficient color contrast and need to be tested against one another. Tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker can be used to test color contrast.

It’s also important not to rely solely on color as the only carrier of information on the page. Structural differences should be used as well, so that people with various types of color blindness can perceive the information. Additionally, you can use tooltips - text that appears on hover - to further clarify and reinforce the message.

Operable

User interface components and navigation must be operable. This means that users must be able to interact with the interface regardless of their motor abilities. For example, all functionality should be accessible via keyboard navigation, and interactive elements should have a clear focus indicator to show where the user is on the page.

• Navigation must be manageable via keyboard, since a mouse is primarily a visual navigation tool.

• Allow users the time they need to complete tasks.

• Flashing or blinking content should be avoided, as it can pose a serious risk to users with photosensitive epilepsy.

• Ensure that navigation is clear and simple for screen readers, so users can easily understand and move through the content.

• Design clickable areas large enough so that users with motor impairments, such as unsteady or wide movements, are not limited in their interaction.

White space between elements is beneficial, as it helps users easily tap or click on interactive components. This applies to both mobile touchscreens and mouse use on desktop screens. It's important to consider how this works across different formats when the page is responsive.

To avoid repetitive information and help users understand the connection between interactive elements and related content, a descriptive link based on the heading may work better than repeatedly using a generic "read more" link beneath text. This gives screen reader users immediate context within the link text itself, so they know exactly what they’re clicking on to move forward.

Keyboard shortcuts can improve efficiency for many users, but they are especially essential for those with motor impairments or visual disabilities, as the mouse relies solely on visual navigation. Different devices and operating systems may use different shortcut commands, so it’s important to be aware of these variations.

Understandable

Since communication is the only way to get users to interact with your site, the content should be informative and easy to understand. What the user sees on the page should also be predictable. Therefore, it's helpful to use design patterns and messaging that are widely recognized and familiar across the web.

It’s also important that elements on the page remain consistent, so users don’t have to relearn how to use features over and over again. This reduces unnecessary cognitive load and allows the core message and information you want to convey to receive more focus. Screen readers also need to be able to interpret the content on the page, so testing with a screen reader to ensure everything works as intended is highly recommended.

Users should have the ability to pause at different stages and still be aware of where they are on the page, so they can continue the interaction when they return. Clear navigation is also essential when something happens—for example, if an error message is triggered, the user needs to understand what action to take next.

One example of this is placing help text before input fields, so that screen reader users receive the message before they start filling out the field.

It is also important that interactive elements behave in a predictable way, especially for users with cognitive disabilities. For example, when clicking a button, the user should be taken exactly where the button indicates. This is why it's essential that content and navigation are aligned and consistent.

Designing elements based on established design patterns is equally important. Additionally, interactive elements on the page should be designed consistently, so users can easily recognize that a button is a button and an input field is an input field.

Summary

As the European Accessibility Act (EAA) becomes mandatory on June 28, 2025, many companies will be affected and need to start adapting the structure of their websites, products, or other systems under development. The earlier the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standard is followed, the easier and more cost-effective it will be to implement the necessary accessibility improvements. Therefore, it's beneficial to review whether the product you own or work on meets the EU accessibility requirements as early as possible - well before the law comes into effect.

We conduct accessibility audits that clearly show what needs to be improved in order to meet legal requirements.

Take a look here if you need assistance.

This article was updated on January 9, 2025, by the QESTIT UX Team.