The European Accessibility Act: Everything You Need to Know

Accessibility for digital products has gained increasing attention in recent years, especially within open-source communities, such as Drupal. As a result, complying with accessibility standards has become a top priority—not only for governments and NGOs but also for commercial businesses. Starting mid-2025, every digital product or service offered to EU citizens will be legally required to meet accessibility standards.

What Is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act is an EU directive aimed at improving accessibility across various digital and physical products and services. The goal is to remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society and the economy.

While many European countries already have national accessibility laws, the EAA introduces a more unified approach, setting common rules across the EU. This means businesses operating in multiple countries will no longer have to deal with different accessibility requirements in each region.

The directive was officially adopted in 2019, and EU member states had until June 2022 to incorporate it into their national laws. Companies must comply with the requirements by June 28, 2025.

Who Needs to Comply?

The EAA applies to businesses and organizations that provide certain digital and physical products and services, including:

• Websites and mobile applications
• E-commerce platforms
• Banking and financial services
• E-books and digital reading devices
• Public transport ticketing and self-service terminals
• Telecommunications services

Small businesses (defined as micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of less than €2 million) may be exempt from some requirements. However, even these businesses can benefit from implementing accessibility best practices.

What Are the Accessibility Requirements?

The EAA builds upon existing standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the EU Web Accessibility Directive. Some of the key requirements include:

• Websites and mobile apps must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust (following WCAG principles).
• Digital services should be compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers.
• Products like e-readers and ATMs must include accessible interfaces and navigation.
• Online marketplaces and e-commerce platforms must provide accessible payment options.
• Customer service channels (such as chat and phone systems) must offer alternative communication methods for people with disabilities.

Failure to comply with these requirements could result in fines or other legal consequences, depending on how each EU country enforces the directive.

Why Does This Matter for Businesses?

Ignoring accessibility is no longer an option. It is simply the right thing to do. Beyond legal compliance, businesses that prioritize accessibility gain several advantages:

1. Larger Customer Base — Over 135 million people in the EU have a disability. Ensuring your website, apps, and services are accessible opens your business to a broader audience.

2. Better User Experience for Everyone — Many accessibility improvements, such as clear navigation, readable text, and keyboard-friendly interfaces, enhance usability for all users - not just those with disabilities.

3. Improved SEO and Performance — Search engines favor well-structured, accessible websites. Features like proper heading hierarchy, text alternatives for images, and semantic HTML can improve rankings in search results.

4. Future-Proofing Your Business — Digital accessibility is not just a legal requirement—it’s becoming a standard expectation. By investing in accessibility now, businesses avoid costly last-minute adjustments and stay ahead of the competition.

Drupal and Accessibility: A Powerful Combination

When it comes to digital accessibility, Drupal stands out as one of the best-equipped content management systems (CMS) for ensuring compliance with modern accessibility standards. Here’s why:

1. Built-In Accessibility Features

Drupal is developed with accessibility in mind and adheres to WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines. Some of its accessibility-first features include:

• Semantic HTML5 for better screen reader compatibility
• ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) support for dynamic content
• Keyboard-accessible navigation and interactive elements
• Automatic image alternative text generation

2. Flexible Theming and Frontend Accessibility

Drupal themes, especially those based on Olivero (the default front-end theme since Drupal 9.4), are designed with accessibility best practices. Features like high contrast, large touch targets, and clear focus styles improve usability for all users. Furthermore, Drupal's flexibility and custom theming capabilities enable developers to comply to any accessibility standard or requirement.

3. Content Editor Support

Drupal’s admin interface includes accessibility-friendly features for content creators:

• CKEditor with built-in accessibility checker
• Color contrast warnings to ensure readability
• Customizable form elements that support assistive technologies

4. Extensive Accessibility Modules

Drupal has a thriving accessibility module ecosystem, allowing website owners to enhance their compliance with minimal effort. Some useful modules include:

• Editoria11y – Provides in-context accessibility feedback to content editors
• Accessibility Checker – Highlights WCAG issues directly in the CMS
• Automatic Alternative Text – Uses AI to generate missing alt text for images

5. Community-Driven Commitment to Accessibility

Drupal’s open-source community is deeply committed to accessibility, constantly improving core and contributed modules to align with the latest accessibility guidelines.

How to Prepare for the European Accessibility Act

If your business operates in the EU or serves visitors or clients from the EU, now is the time to take action. Here’s how to start:

1. Conduct an Accessibility Audit
   Evaluate your website, apps, and digital products against WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Automated tools and manual testing with assistive technologies can help identify barriers.
2. Develop an Accessibility Strategy
   Make accessibility a part of your digital roadmap. Assign responsibilities, set goals, and integrate accessibility into your design and development processes.
3. Train Your Team
   Ensure designers, developers, content creators, and customer support teams understand accessibility principles and best practices.
4. Implement Necessary Changes
   Start making improvements step by step. Focus on high-impact areas first, such as navigation, text readability, and alternative text for images.
5. Leverage Drupal’s Accessibility Features
   If your website runs on Drupal, take advantage of its built-in accessibility tools and modules to make compliance easier.
6. Stay Up to Date
   Accessibility standards evolve over time. Keep an eye on new regulations and best practices to ensure ongoing compliance.

Are you ready for the EEA?

The European Accessibility Act represents more than just regulatory compliance—it’s about creating a more inclusive digital world. By embracing these accessibility requirements, businesses can:

• Expand their market reach
• Demonstrate social responsibility
• Improve user experience for all customers
• Stay ahead of evolving digital accessibility standards

As we move closer to the implementation deadline, organizations should start evaluating their digital content and services against these requirements. If you’re looking for an accessible open-source website, platform or web application with accessibility built into the design, The Savvy Few can provide the perfect solution. The investment in accessibility today will pay dividends in both social impact and business compliance.

Whether you're an existing client or considering a new partnership, our Drupal specialists are here to help. We can support you with auditing, upgrading, or redesigning your Drupal site or application to meet the EAA requirements before the June 28, 2025 deadline.

Don't wait — get in touch with us today to start your transition to a more accessible, future-proof digital experience.

About the author

Thijs Boots (Drupal.org / Twitter) has turned his passion for design and technology into a career. Starting in the early 90s, Thijs started creating ANSI-based user interfaces for dial-up bulletin board systems. With the arrival of the internet, he shifted into frontend design and development. In 2011, he co-founded The Savvy Few, an Amsterdam-based creative digital agency with a strong focus on Drupal. Thijs is an active member of the Drupal community who regularly attends Drupal events across Europe. He divides his time between The Netherlands and Malaysia, where he regularly helps organize local meetups and contribution events for the local Drupal community.