Is your digital experience ready for the european accessibility act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force in June 2025, and it’s set to reshape how digital services operate across the EU. For organisations, this isn’t just another checklist for compliance, it’s a fundamental opportunity to create better, more inclusive experiences for everyone.

Aligning and cross-referencing our work with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) has always been an integral part of our design process, and the EAA provides an opportunity to escalate our accessibility standards even further. At Atomic, we believe great design should work for everyone. With our UX Auditing and Accessibility Design Services, we help organisations to futureproof not just to meet the legal standard, but to exceed it.

“Accessibility isn’t just about compliance, it’s about empathy, clarity, and good design. The European Accessibility Act reinforces what we already practise at Atomic: designing for everyone isn’t optional, it’s essential. We’re continuously pushing for inclusive accessibility across every project as a minimum, not a bonus, and we’re actively helping our clients stay ahead of the curve,  not just to meet the new standards, but to lead with inclusive, user-centred design.”

– Leon, Head of Design, Atomic

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What is the European Accessibility Act?

The EAA is an EU directive aiming to harmonise accessibility requirements across member states. It ensures people with disabilities have access to a broad range of products and services, including digital platforms 

If your organisation offers e-commerce, online banking, ticketing services, e-books, mobile apps, or customer support channels to users in the EU, you’ll likely fall under its scope.

The deadline for compliance is 28 June 2025. At the heart of the directive is one key mission: everyone deserves access to digital products and services, regardless of ability.

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Why this matters to you (beyond compliance)

Meeting accessibility standards isn’t just about legal compliance, it’s about creating digital experiences that are truly inclusive.

Inclusive design isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also good for business. Research shows that 69% of disabled customers will leave a website they find difficult to use, and the estimated loss to UK businesses from this exceeds £17.1 billion annually. Accessible platforms not only reduce drop-offs and improve conversions, but they also enhance SEO, expand audience reach, and elevate brand reputation. Designing for inclusivity creates smoother, more intuitive, and more effective experiences for all users, directly contributing to business success.

“Designing with accessibility in mind, rooted in empathy, has a meaningful, far-reaching impact. When we design for everyone, we don’t just remove barriers; we open the door to broader, more inclusive experiences. Inclusivity isn’t a limitation, it’s a powerful catalyst for innovation and inspiration.”

– Beth, Product Designer, Atomic

Here’s what’s at stake:

• Legal risks: Failure to comply could lead to regulatory action and fines.
  
• Reputational damage: Accessibility matters to users and they’re paying attention to your organisation
  
• Missed market opportunity: Over 135 million people in the EU live with a disability and an estimated £17bn is lost by e-commerce sites from users abandoning sites due to accessibility barriers.

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What does accessibility actually involve?

Designing for accessibility means building digital products that work for people with a wide range of abilities and assistive technologies.

The core pillars of the WCAG are that digital products should be perceivable, operable and understandable. Here are some of the key requirements organisations should be addressing to meet these pillars:

• Screen Reader Compatibility
  Structure your content using true semantic HTML. All interactive elements — buttons, forms and navigation, must be properly labelled and operable via screen readers.
  
• Keyboard Navigation
  All content should be fully navigable using a keyboard alone, ensuring users who can’t access a mouse or trackpad aren’t locked out of the experience.
  
• Colour Contrast & Visual Design
  Text and background colours must meet minimum contrast ratios to remain legible, especially for users with visual impairments or colour blindness.
  
• Text Resizing & Responsiveness
  Users should be able to scale text up to 200% without breaking layout or readability.
  
• Alt Text for Images
  Informative images need meaningful alternative text to enable screen readers to interpret them.
  
• Error Identification & Form Labels
  Clear guidance must be provided for form errors, and all inputs should have descriptive, accessible labels.
  
• Avoiding Content That Flashes
  To prevent triggering seizures, avoid content that flashes more than three times in a second.
  
• Clear, concise wording
  Users of all reading abilities should be able to understand as much of your content as possible.

“All of us will benefit from accessible technology at some point in our lives, and most of us do on a daily basis without even realising it. For example, 60% of Youtube videos are watched with subtitles on. One of the key principles of universal design is that if you build for the widest possible range of people, then the product will be more usable by everyone.”

 – Frazier, Product Owner & Accessibility Champion, Atomic

These considerations form the backbone of international standards like WCAG 2.1 AA, which the EAA aligns with.

Meeting these standards isn’t about the minimum requirements—it’s about respecting every user’s right to access your product or service, regardless of how they interact with technology.

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How UX auditing helps you prepare

A UX audit is your first step towards compliance, and better design.

By leveraging the Atomic UX Auditing Process, you can identify accessibility blockers, usability flaws and design gaps, and exceed WCAG 2.1 AA standards. 

We will provide direction on:

• Actionable insights into how your product performs for all users
  
• A clear, prioritised plan for improvements
  
• Confidence that your experience meets and exceeds accessibility expectations

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Designing for all: Atomic’s accessibility services

We don’t treat accessibility as a bolt-on, it’s baked into every part of our design process. Whether we’re reworking navigation flows or ensuring colour contrast meets WCAG standards, we focus on inclusive, intuitive experiences from day one.

Our services include:

• Accessibility design audits
  
• Inclusive design workshops
  
• Remediation support and product improvement
  
• Ongoing accessibility consultancy
  

We’ve helped organisations large and small to transform their digital platforms, not just to meet compliance, but to unlock better outcomes for their customers.

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Getting ready: A simple action plan

Here’s how Atomic can help you get ready for the fast-approaching EAA:

1. Book a discovery call
   Let’s explore your current digital ecosystem and assess your needs.
   
2. Run a UX & Accessibility Audit
   We’ll identify any critical issues and opportunities across your site, app, or service.
   
3. Design for improvement
   Whether it’s a few tweaks or a full accessibility overhaul, our team will deliver first-rate solutions that work for everyone.
   
4. Upskill your team
   We provide training, workshops, and support to help your people design inclusively going forward.

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Looking ahead: Accessibility and the rise of AI agents

The convergence of accessibility and AI is increasingly important for the future of web development. While the full impact of generative and agent-based AI is still unfolding, it’s clear that well-structured, accessible websites are not only beneficial for users but also for AI interpretation.

Screen reader-friendly code, semantic HTML, and clear labeling of interactive elements not only support users with disabilities but also improve AI systems’ ability to understand, navigate, and interact with your site.

As digital agents potentially play a larger role in how people interact with online services, accessibility becomes both a human and technological necessity. The accessibility of your platform directly impacts its preparedness for the future of AI-driven interaction.

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A final word: This isn’t just a deadline, it’s a turning point

Prioritising accessibility cultivates empathy, reminding us of the many different ways people engage with the web. It’s about creating digital platforms that go beyond functionality to deliver meaningful, enjoyable experiences that build trust and promote inclusivity. 

At Atomic, accessibility isn’t just a requirement, it’s a core element of crafting sustainable, human-centered digital experiences for all.

Let’s make your product work for everyone.
Get in touch today to book your UX & Accessibility Audit or chat with our team about your EAA readiness.

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Sources & Further Reading:

European Accessibility Act overview – Level Access
European Commission: EAA Comes Into Effect June 2025
Designers Guide to Get Ready for the EAA
Business Case Accessibility Numbers: Is your digital experience ready for the european accessibility act?