{"id":16986,"date":"2025-06-20T10:31:25","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T10:31:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/?p=16986"},"modified":"2025-06-20T10:31:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T10:31:27","slug":"european-accessibility-act-eaa-a-checklist-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/european-accessibility-act-eaa-a-checklist-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"European Accessibility Act (EAA): A Checklist for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>At Win &amp; Winnow, we believe that language should never be a barrier\u2014and neither should technology. As <strong>a translation and accessibility company committed to improving lives through accessible information<\/strong>, we\u2019re thrilled to see the world taking bold steps toward digital inclusion. One of the most exciting developments on this front is the <strong>European Accessibility Act (EAA), which officially comes into effect on June 28, 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The European Accessibility Act (EAA) will make inclusive-by-design a legal requirement for all digital materials across the EU. From websites to e-leaflets, every interface a healthcare organisation provides must now be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust\u2014or risk fines, market withdrawals and reputational damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why does it matter to you? What are the consequences of not complying? What should you do next? Where do you start? So many questions arise, but worry not; in this blog, we&#8217;ll share answers and an actionable European Accessibility Act Checklist for you to catch up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:46px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#aioseo-what-is-the-european-accessibility-act-eaa\">What Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#aioseo-some-frequently-asked-questions-you-may-have-about-the-european-accessibility-act-eaa\">Some Frequently Asked Questions About the European Accessibility Act (EAA) You May Have<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#aioseo-what-exactly-do-i-have-to-do-european-accessibility-act-compliance-checklist\">Here&#x27;s A European Accessibility Act Compliance Checklist<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#aioseo-what-to-include\">What to Include<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#aioseo-what-to-check\">What to Check<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#aioseo-what-you-may-need\">What you may need<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#aioseo-opening-the-digital-door-for-everyone-accessibility-is-more-than-complianceits-a-commitment-to-inclusion\">Opening the Digital Door for Everyone: Accessibility Is More Than Compliance<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:46px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-what-is-the-european-accessibility-act-eaa\">What Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/commission.europa.eu\/strategy-and-policy\/policies\/justice-and-fundamental-rights\/disability\/union-equality-strategy-rights-persons-disabilities-2021-2030\/european-accessibility-act_en\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">European Accessibility Act (EAA)<\/a> is a directive adopted by the European Union in 2019 aimed at improving the accessibility of products and services for people with disabilities. It was created in response to the growing need for a more inclusive digital and physical environment, in line with the EU\u2019s commitment to the <a href=\"https:\/\/social.desa.un.org\/issues\/disability\/crpd\/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-crpd\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into full effect on June 28, 2025, and seeks to eliminate accessibility barriers in key sectors\u2014such as websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, banking services, e-books, ATMs, ticketing systems, and more\u2014so that everyone, regardless of ability, can participate equally in society and the economy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It applies to both public and private entities operating in the European market, especially medium to large enterprises that provide consumer-facing digital services or products. Microenterprises\u2014those with fewer than 10 employees or annual turnover under \u20ac2 million\u2014are generally exempt, though many still choose to comply voluntarily as <a href=\"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/why-website-translation-is-a-big-step-towards-growth-for-smes\/\" title=\"\">a matter of corporate responsibility<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For companies, compliance means ensuring that their digital and physical interfaces meet specific accessibility criteria, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> compatibility with assistive technologies, <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>clear navigation, <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>readable content, and <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>equitable functionality across user groups. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It also involves ongoing monitoring, providing user feedback channels, and publishing an accessibility statement. <strong>Ultimately, the EAA challenges businesses to go beyond basic legal adherence and <a href=\"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/language-accessibility-services-best-practices\/\" title=\"\">embrace accessibility as a strategic priority for growth and inclusion<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/hal-gatewood-tZc3vjPCk-Q-unsplash-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Hand-made sketches of website pages, which must consider color contrast and readability to comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA).\" class=\"wp-image-16991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/hal-gatewood-tZc3vjPCk-Q-unsplash-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/hal-gatewood-tZc3vjPCk-Q-unsplash-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/hal-gatewood-tZc3vjPCk-Q-unsplash-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/hal-gatewood-tZc3vjPCk-Q-unsplash-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/hal-gatewood-tZc3vjPCk-Q-unsplash-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-some-frequently-asked-questions-you-may-have-about-the-european-accessibility-act-eaa\">Some Frequently Asked Questions About the European Accessibility Act (EAA) You May Have<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>1. <strong>Why Should My Company Care About the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>The EAA is more than just a legal obligation\u2014it\u2019s a chance to build better, more inclusive digital experiences. Complying with the EAA helps your company:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Avoid legal risks and penalties<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expand your audience by making content accessible to people with disabilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve usability for everyone, not just those with impairments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthen your brand\u2019s reputation as inclusive, ethical, and future-forward<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/landing-pages-that-care-creating-inclusive-health-campaigns-through-language-and-design\/\" title=\"\">It\u2019s also becoming <strong>a competitive advantage<\/strong><\/a>: customers are increasingly choosing businesses that value accessibility and inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>2. <strong>What Happens if We Don\u2019t Comply With the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>Non-compliance can lead to significant consequences. These may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fines and enforcement actions from national authorities\u2014non-compliance fines can reach up to 500.000 Euros<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Legal liability or lawsuits from consumers or advocacy groups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damage to your brand\u2019s reputation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restricted access to public contracts or partnerships within the EU<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each EU member state is responsible for defining and enforcing penalties, but the overall message is clear: ignoring accessibility will come at a cost\u2014both financial and reputational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>3. <strong>Does the European Accessibility Act (EAA) Apply to Me if My Company Is Not Based in Europe?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>Even if your business is based outside the EU, the EAA may still apply <strong>if you sell products or services to EU consumers<\/strong>. For example, if you run a U.S.-based e-commerce site that ships to Europe, or offer a digital product accessible by EU residents, you&#8217;re likely required to comply with the Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being proactive about accessibility not only avoids legal issues\u2014it also positions your business as globally responsible and inclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>4. <strong>Does the EAA Apply to All Businesses?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>The EAA primarily applies to <strong>medium and large enterprises<\/strong> offering digital services or products to the EU market. <strong>Microenterprises<\/strong> (fewer than 10 employees or under \u20ac2 million in turnover) are generally exempt from the legal requirements\u2014but many still choose to implement accessibility standards to improve user experience and brand credibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, the trend toward inclusive design is gaining momentum globally. Whether legally required or not, accessibility is becoming a universal best practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>5. <strong>Am I Behind Schedule? What Should I Prioritize Now?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>The European Accessibility Act (EAA) officially comes into effect on June 28, 2025. Now, <a href=\"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/how-to-improve-accessibility-in-your-companys-communications\/\" title=\"\">you don\u2019t have to overhaul everything at once.<\/a> Here\u2019s how to start\u2014or check how far you&#8217;ve come:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Assess<\/strong> your current digital accessibility status with an audit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prioritize<\/strong> the most critical changes (e.g., navigation, readability, alt text)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Train<\/strong> your team on accessibility basics and inclusive design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integrate<\/strong> AI tools to help scale and automate accessibility improvements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Engage<\/strong> with users with disabilities for feedback and testing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-what-exactly-do-i-have-to-do-european-accessibility-act-compliance-checklist\">Here&#8217;s A European Accessibility Act Compliance Checklist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What Exactly Do I have To Do? This guide provides a quick overview of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and its implications for companies offering digital products and services in the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-what-to-include\">What to Include<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Alt text for images<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keyboard navigation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High color contrast<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Captions and audio description<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Screen reader compatibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resizable text on mobile apps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Error prevention and easy-to-understand instructions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-what-to-check\">What to Check<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Websites<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mobile apps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E-commerce platforms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customers or patient portals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PDFs or digital documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emails or newsletters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>e-Learning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-what-you-may-need\">What you may need<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Running a full audit of your digital interfaces, and documenting all issues\u2014big and small. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prioritizing based on user impact and legal risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Involving accessibility specialists early in your UX and design process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hosting internal workshops and offering role-specific training<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Making PDFs, videos, emails, e-learnings, or apps accessible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating accessible templates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrating AI tools for tasks like machine translation, voice-to-text, and content summarization. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitoring accessibility over time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Partnering with providers (like us!) who specialize in accessible multilingual content.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surface-hZko7zEvqg4-unsplash-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Two women cheerfully reading from a laptop, considering digital content must comply with European Accessibility Act (EAA).\" class=\"wp-image-16992\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surface-hZko7zEvqg4-unsplash-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surface-hZko7zEvqg4-unsplash-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surface-hZko7zEvqg4-unsplash-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surface-hZko7zEvqg4-unsplash-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surface-hZko7zEvqg4-unsplash-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-opening-the-digital-door-for-everyone-accessibility-is-more-than-complianceits-a-commitment-to-inclusion\">Opening the Digital Door for Everyone: Accessibility Is More Than Compliance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Too often, accessibility is treated as a legal requirement to meet, rather than a human right to honor. At Win &amp; Winnow, we see it differently. Accessibility is about dignity, opportunity, and empowerment. When we make digital spaces easier to navigate for people with visual, auditory, cognitive, or mobility impairments, <strong>we don\u2019t just comply with regulations\u2014we create better experiences for everyone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Do you need further guidance for adopting the European Accessibility Act (EAA) requirements? <a href=\"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/contact\/\" title=\"\">Set a meeting with our professional team<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At Win &amp; Winnow, we believe that language should never be a barrier\u2014and neither should technology. As a translation and accessibility company committed to improving lives through accessible information, we\u2019re thrilled to see the world taking bold steps toward digital inclusion. One of the most exciting developments on this front is the European Accessibility Act [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":16990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diversity-and-inclusion-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16986"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16986\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16993,"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16986\/revisions\/16993"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winandwinnow.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}