Topics: Strategy and Innovation, Products and Services

Preparing your business for the 2025 European Accessibility Act

Elina Frolova
Rasmus Rune Larsen

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), with its June 2025 deadline, is raising digital accessibility standards across Europe. It's time for businesses to step up. Accessibility should not be an afterthought. It's about making experiences better for everyone.

Breaking digital barriers by 2025

As digital products and emerging technologies continue to evolve, accessibility barriers still persist. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) seeks to break down these barriers by harmonising legislation across Europe to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to essential products and services.
With a compliance deadline of June 28, 2025, the EAA requires that all covered products and services, whether produced by EU-based or non-EU companies operating in the EU, meet the new accessibility standards.
It applies to new products and services; existing ones may be granted a transitional period.
The EAA covers a broad range of products and services, including online platforms. This means ensuring websites, apps, PDFs, and ebooks are accessible to all users, including compatibility with screen readers and, in some cases, voice commands. While the directive doesn't explicitly mention emerging technologies like VR, AR, or gaming, its principles suggest that these should also be designed with accessibility in mind.

At Manyone, we view accessibility as more than a regulatory obligation. It should be the baseline – and beyond that, it presents a powerful market opportunity. Companies must embed accessibility into their core product strategy, viewing it as a priority rather than an afterthought.

Why accessibility is important for your business

Eurostat reports that 1 in 4 adults in Europe live with a disability. By 2050, the global population of people aged 60 and older is projected to double, driving an increase in age-related disabilities. As a result, the demand for accessible products and services will rise, creating new opportunities for companies that prioritise inclusivity.
illustration showing website and that its contrast is accessible
illustration showing website and that its contrast is accessible

Here’s how accessibility can benefit your business:

  • Expand your consumer base

  • Boost SEO by using proper headline hierarchy

  • Strengthen your brand, putting inclusion at the centre

  • Improve usability and customer satisfaction, as it is easier for your customers to use what you offer

  • Increase employee satisfaction leading to a more diverse, engaged, and productive workforce

  • Expand market opportunities, including partnerships with organisations that prioritise inclusivity

  • Future-proof your business, staying ahead of evolving regulations and demographic trends by embedding accessibility into your long-term strategy

Prepare existing websites and apps

Start by creating a plan for accessibility. Determine whether you have the internal expertise to evaluate your digital platforms, or if external help is needed.
Next, conduct an accessibility audit of each website and app. Based on the results, prioritise the necessary fixes and establish a budget if outside support is required. These could include changes to the content, technical aspects, or design.
Once corrections are made, conduct a final accessibility evaluation to ensure compliance.
illustration showing that some elements on a website are accessible and some are not
illustration showing that some elements on a website are accessible and some are not
illustration showing accessibility in design, code and content
illustration showing accessibility in design, code and content

Get ready with new digital products

If you’re looking to launch a new product, prioritise accessibility from the start. Ensure that key team members, like content providers, are trained on the criteria.
Again, a plan for the accessibility work will be central. Check in during the entire process, both in the design and development phases.
If you are working with a supplier or agency, make it clear in the brief that the project must comply with the EAA.
A website is dynamic by nature, and new content and new features are often added over time. It’s important to conduct regular accessibility checks, such as annual reviews, to ensure ongoing compliance.

Events

Digital accessibility in action - webinar from 5 November 2024

  • What digital accessibility is and why it matters

  • How the European Accessibility Act is driving change in digital services by 2025

  • Practical steps businesses can take to meet accessibility standards and improve user experience

  • The business case for accessibility: expanding your market and avoiding legal risks

Register to watch the webinar

How we can help

Audit of existing products or services
Design and Development
Incorporating accessibility into the strategic development of new digital products

Reach out to get started

Are you ready to try a new way of working? Let’s talk about your project and how the collaborative approach can make it faster, stronger, and more impactful.

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