Are you accessibility ready? By June 2025, all companies operating in the EU need to make sure their website, apps, and online platforms are accessible. What some companies usually put include as an afterthought, like voice commands, smart suggestions, and adaptive interfaces, are vital for people with disabilities and cannot be ignored.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is changing that. This law sets clear guidelines for businesses to ensure that technology and essential services are accessible to everyone. But it’s more than just a legal requirement, it’s an opportunity to reach more people, expand markets, and build a future where accessibility is the norm.
Let’s explore how the EAA came to be and how it can drive inclusivity in business.
What is the European Accessibility Act?
What Products and Services are Covered by the European Accessibility Standards?
How to Ensure Your Website Complies with European Web Accessibility Standards
Use Clear and Simple Language
Add Alternative Text to Images
Create Accessible Multilingual Content
Make Forms and Contact Options Accessible
Use Captions and Transcriptions for Multimedia
Leverage AI for Text-to-Speech
Optimize Metadata for Accessibility
The European Accessibility Act: A Step Towards Inclusion
What is the European Accessibility Act?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) became law in April 2019. Its main goal is to make everyday products and services accessible to people with disabilities. This law helps the EU meet the standards set by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Changes have been introduced over time, with the final deadline set for June 2025.
Key Deadlines to Comply with Accessibility Regulations :
June 2022: EU Member States had to include the EAA in their national laws.
June 2025: Businesses must fully comply with the new standards by this date.
The European Accessibility Act focuses on four key goals:
- Equal Access – Ensures that people with disabilities can use the same products and services as everyone else.
- Consistency Across the EU – Sets common accessibility standards in EU countries.
- Encourage Innovation – Pushes businesses to design accessible products and services.
- Promote Inclusion – Removes barriers so people with disabilities can fully participate in society.
What Products and Services are Covered by the European Accessibility Standards?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) applies to a wide range of products and services, including:
- Computers and operating systems
- Streaming and media services
- Online shopping platforms
- Phones and communication devices
- Self-service machines (ATMs, ticket kiosks, etc.)
- Banking services
- Ticketing and check-in systems for public transport
How to Ensure Your Website Complies with European Web Accessibility Standards
All companies operating in the EU, including service providers, distributors, and manufacturers must ensure their websites, mobile apps, and online platforms are accessible to everyone. The law follows standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Failing to comply can result in fines or legal action.
To meet these requirements, businesses must follow key accessibility best practices:
Use Clear and Simple Language
Use plain, easy-to-understand language and ensure instructions and navigation are simple to follow. Avoid complex or technical terms when writing descriptions. This also helps screen readers and other assistive technologies, (which we’ll explain later.) You can also work with accessibility professionals to check if your content meets current standards.
Add Alternative Text to Images
Screen readers , an assistive technology, help visually impaired users read text, buttons, images and other screen elements. Screen readers convert what’s on a computer screen into information that can be displayed through synthetic speech, or Braille output.
To be able to do so, screen readers need accessible interfaces. By adding descriptive alternative text, you make visual content accessible beyond just eyesight.
This apply also to tables, forms and other elements in the web pages. So, when creating content, it is important to add the proper alt-text.
Alt-text (alternative text) describes an image on a page. It helps visually impaired users understand images, provides context for search engine bots for better indexing and ranking, and displays when images fail to load, or people have turned off images to save data.
Use a balanced mix of descriptive text and relevant keywords to help your images rank in Google search results. Avoid keyword stuffing, too many keywords can harm accessibility for visually impaired users and negatively impact SEO. Clear, concise alt-text improves both user experience and search engine visibility.
Create Accessible Multilingual Content
If your website supports multiple languages, make sure translations are accurate and accessible. A catchy slogan in one language might not work in another, so localized content helps reach different audiences effectively while staying true to the original message.
To make multilingual content truly accessible, it’s essential to follow key best practices. Clearly defining the language of each page and section using proper HTML attributes helps screen readers and search engines process the content accurately.
Navigation should remain consistent across all language versions to ensure users can easily find what they need, regardless of the language they choose.
Since some languages take up more space to express the same idea, designs should accommodate text expansion without disrupting layout or readability. Choosing fonts that support all characters and diacritics ensures text displays correctly for every user.
A responsive web design is also crucial, allowing the site to function smoothly across different devices and screen sizes.
Finally, working with translation and accessibility experts ensures that content is not only accurate but also culturally appropriate and easy to understand. By implementing these steps, businesses can create an inclusive, user-friendly experience for a global audience.
Make Forms and Contact Options Accessible
Online forms should be easy to fill out and compatible with assistive devices.
Use clear instructions and simple error messages, supply concise guidance for completing the form, including examples if necessary.
The layout should be readable, with legible fonts and well-spaced text for a smooth reading experience. Clearly label each form field to inform users of the required input.
Make sure users can complete the form using only a keyboard, making it accessible for those who rely on keyboard navigation.
Use Captions and Transcriptions for Multimedia
Implementing video captions and transcripts can significantly enhance accessibility for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Captions provide a synchronized text version of spoken words and relevant sounds, allowing users to read along with the audio. Closed captions are better than open captions because they can be turned on and off, support multiple languages, and allow users to adjust font type and size.
Transcripts offer a complete textual representation of both speech and non-speech elements, which can be used independently or alongside the media. By incorporating these features, you not only comply with accessibility standards but also create a more inclusive digital environment for a diverse audience.
Leverage AI for Text-to-Speech
Text-to-Speech (TTS) is an assistive technology that converts digital text into spoken words, often known as “read aloud” technology. Pairing audio with text helps users retain information better and supports people with attention deficits. However, simply enabling TTS on a website isn’t enough, it must be high quality to truly enhance the user experience.
AI can generate natural-sounding voices to make text-to-speech content more engaging.
Unlike traditional TTS, AI models continuously learn and adapt, refining their speech output based on new data and user feedback. This results in more natural and accurate voices over time. Additionally, AI TTS provides a greater variety of voices, accents, and languages, making it possible to capture regional dialects and even mimic specific voices with high precision.
Another key advantage of AI TTS is its ability to integrate seamlessly with other AI-driven technologies like virtual assistants, chatbots, and voice-activated systems, enabling more natural and context-aware interactions. As technology advances, basic TTS functionality is no longer enough, AI-powered solutions are now setting the standard for accessibility, engagement, and innovation in digital experiences.
Optimize Metadata for Accessibility
Ignoring accessibility doesn’t just exclude users, it also hurts your online visibility. Metadata helps filter websites and suggests accessible content to users. If a website lacks accessibility, search engines direct users to better alternatives. If you have multiple versions of the same page, metadata ensures users find the most suitable one.
How Maka can help your website meet European accessibility standards
We make sure your translated content is accurate, culturally relevant, and contextually appropriate.
Our comprehensive language audit, assess your site’s accessibility, readability, and metadata.
We handle everything from meta descriptions and alt text to automatic transcripts, subtitles, and voiceovers.
We automate key accessibility fixes, helping you resolve common issues such as: missing alt text for images, incorrect heading structures, improper use of HTML , broken links and much more.
Our team reviews your website’s content and navigation to ensure it meets accessibility standards. We help you maintain clear and consistent terminology across all languages. Plus, we train content creators and developers to produce accessible materials, giving them the tools to make your website inclusive for everyone.
Get your free language audit to test your website’s accessibility.
The European Accessibility Act: A Step Towards Inclusion
The European Accessibility Act is a major step in making businesses more inclusive. Every customer should be able to access services comfortably and independently. Want to improve accessibility on your platform? Discover our Multilingual SEO and Marketing Solutions and start making a difference today.