European Accessibility Act: is your site compliant?

With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into force in June 2025, website accessibility is no longer optional.

It’s a legal requirement across the European Union and will affect every part of how we design and develop digital products.

The aim? To ensure a wide range of products and services, including websites, comply with accessibility standards that allow equal access for people with disabilities.

According to the 2025 WebAIM Million Report, only 5.2% of the world’s top one million websites meet basic accessibility standards.

In other words, 94.8% still fall short of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which underpin compliance with the ADA, Section 508, and now the EAA.

The good news? Designing for web accessibility is not about restricting creativity or overhauling your codebase, it’s about building better, clearer, and more inclusive experiences for everyone.

What does it mean for your website accessibility?

The bottom line is that you will need to meet the WCAG 2.1 AA standards. These guidelines form the basis for accessibility across the web, covering everything from colour contrast and readable text to keyboard navigation and assistive technology support. Your design and development teams will need to make a plan to address any areas that fall short.

Creating inclusive interfaces through design

Design is typically the first step towards website accessibility. A well-designed interface can prevent many accessibility barriers from ever appearing. Here are the accessibility best practices for inclusive design:

Colour and contrast

Text and interactive elements should have sufficient contrast to remain readable in all conditions. For example, pale grey text on a white background fails to meet web accessibility standards and is hard to read for many users. We use tools such as color.review, to ensure that our designs match colour contrast requirements.

Typography and hierarchy

Legible typography benefits everyone. We choose fonts that are clear and scalable. We also use consistent heading levels - heading levels (H1 to H6) help organise content into a logical hierarchy and structure that helps both users and assistive technologies navigate the page. We always start with a base text size of 16px (or 1rem) to make sure that the most important text is always legible.

Visual feedback

Interactive elements such as buttons, links, and form fields should always provide visible feedback when hovered over, focused on, or clicked.

Simplicity and clarity

Clean layouts, clear labelling, and straightforward navigation create a smoother experience for all users, including those with cognitive impairments.

Do not rely on colour alone

When communicating information, it’s important to use multiple cues such as icons, text labels, or patterns in addition to colour.

Even though website accessibility is a requirement, a site can still look and feel engaging while remaining functional and accessible for all. The same principles that improve usability for users with disabilities often enhance the overall user experience.

Creating inclusive interfaces through development

Although good design lays the foundation for web accessibility, development plays an equally important role in making sure that a site is accessible. Here are some of the key principles to follow:

Use semantic HTML

Structure content with proper headings, lists, buttons, and landmarks. Semantic elements communicate meaning to browsers and assistive technologies, improving navigation and comprehension.

Ensure scalability for user preference

Instead of using PX-based measurements, using REM is best practice as it ensures that the type and element sizing scales with user preference. REM stands for ‘root-em’ and is a fundamental unit of measurement in web design.

Ensure keyboard accessibility

All interactive elements should be usable with a keyboard. Users must be able to navigate, select, and submit information without relying on a mouse or touch device.

Label forms correctly

Every form field should have a visible and programmatic label. You should provide clear error messages and ensure they are announced by screen readers.

Use ARIA roles responsibly

An ARIA label is a HTML attribute which provides descriptive text for web elements when the visual label is absent. It can enhance accessibility when used correctly, but it should not replace semantic HTML. Use it only when there is no native element that conveys the same meaning.

Test with assistive technologies

Regularly test your site using screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and accessibility tools such as Lighthouse, Axe, or WAVE. Manual testing is essential for a complete picture.

How to meet accessibility standards for websites

Given the figures from the 2025 WebAIM Million Report, there is a high chance that your site won’t comply with the EAA. We recommend the following steps to ensure that your site reaches Web ContentAccessibility Guidelines:

1. ‍Audit your current website. Although automatic testing can work, having a specialist look at your site offers a more detailed perspective. You can commission full UX and CRO auditing services for clarity on where your site is falling short of the new mandates.
2. Fix high-priority issues. As the EEA is already in place, it’s important to address the key items first. You’ll need your design and development teams to ensure there is a plan and that you action it swiftly. ‍
3. Update your design system. Applying accessibility best practices from the ground-up makes it easier to make sure that both design and development are fully inclusive.‍
4. Test regularly. Accessibility is not a one-time task. It is an ongoing commitment to improving your digital experience as technology and user needs evolve.

Accessibility as a standard for quality

The EAA is an important step towards a more inclusive digital world. For designers and developers, it represents an opportunity to create better products that serve everyone, regardless of ability.

Accessibility in web design is not a constraint but a mark of quality, professionalism, and care. By embedding accessibility best practices into both design and development now, you will not only meet the 2025 requirements, but you can also build digital experiences that are clearer, more usable, and more human now and for the future.

Is your website welcoming to everyone? We can work it out! Let’s talk about creating a digital experience that includes all users. Get in touch at marketing@proctorsgroup.com.