Will your website be accessible before June 28, 2025?

The EAA is a European law that makes digital accessibility mandatory. The goal: to make websites, apps and other digital services usable for everyone – including people with visual, auditory, motor or cognitive disabilities. Think of the visually impaired, people with dementia, the elderly or people with intellectual disabilities.

The EAA applies not only to governments, but also to organisations and commercial companies that offer online products or services to consumers.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are international guidelines that describe how to make digital content accessible. These guidelines are built around four principles: content should be Observable, Usable, Understandable and Robust.

1. Observable – Users can perceive all information sensorially ↳ Examples: alt texts, subtitles, sufficient colour contrast (minimum 4.5:1)
   
   
2. Usable – All interactive elements are easy to operate ↳ Examples: Keyboard navigation, no time limits, focus styles
   
   
3. Understandable – Content and functionality are predictable and clear ↳ Examples: Simple language, consistent navigation, clear error messages on forms
   
   
4. Robust – The website works on all modern technologies, including help software
   ↳ Examples: semantic HTML, correct structure with headings and lists correct ARIA attributes

Many websites are not yet fully accessible at this time. Think of:

• Poor contrast
• No or no useful alt texts
• Unclear navigation
• Videos without subtitles
• Forms that are not usable without a mouse

The impact of the EAA is therefore that companies must (partially) revise, test and optimise their websites according to the WCAG standards.

But accessibility also offers advantages:

• Better findable in Google (SEO)
• Higher customer satisfaction
• Lower maintenance costs
• Corporate Social Responsibility

Compliance with the EAA will be monitored. In the Netherlands, the audit will probably lie with the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). If your website isn't up to scratch, you can:

• Get a warning
• Being required to make adjustments
• Risk a fine in some cases

In addition, you suffer reputational damage and you (unintentionally) exclude a large group of users. Because about 25% of the Dutch population has to deal with a disability.

Don't wait until the last minute. Use this handy checklist:

• ✅ Make an inventory of whether your site complies with WCAG 2.1 (level AA)
• ✅ Check your website with automatic tools (such as Lighthouse, axe DevTools, ismijnsitetoegankelijk.nl)
• ✅ Provide good alt texts for images
• ✅ Check the colour contrast with contrastchecker.com
• ✅ Make sure your website is fully usable without a mouse
• ✅ Add subtitles or transcripts to videos and audio
• ✅ Use clear, simple language in your content
• ✅ Test with a screen reader (e.g. NVDA or VoiceOver)
• ✅ Have the website tested by someone with a disability
• ✅ Document what you have done and what is not (yet) possible

Beeld: Pexels shvetsa-3732692