Ensuring digital accessibility is about to become really important for businesses operating in or engaging with the European Union. That’s because the incoming European Accessibility Act (EAA) is setting some new and increasingly rigorous standards around useability and access that will take some time to address. With the compliance deadline set for June 2025, the need to act fast is growing.

In our first blog on the EAA and its impact, we covered the EEA’s benefits for businesses, such as enhancing user experience and expanding market reach. Our second blog explored in detail what the implementation of accessibility standards will mean for different sectors. However, understanding these benefits is just the beginning. Now, we need to focus on the practical steps required to meet these standards.

Fundamentally, the EAA aims to create an inclusive digital environment across Europe. As a result, the rule sets or re-frames rigorous accessibility standards for digital content and services. For businesses, this represents not only a legal obligation but also a chance to improve user experience, expand their audience, and build customer loyalty.

Today we’ll guide you through different strategies to prepare for EAA compliance. This includes conducting thorough accessibility audits, keeping digital content up-to-date, training staff on inclusivity standards, and implementing key adaptations. We’ll also highlight common pitfalls to avoid and examine the role of language services.

Preparing for the EAA? Here’s Your Game Plan

Meeting EAA standards doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the compliance deadline fast approaching, it’s time to focus on actions you can take now to ensure your business meets the requirements and provides an inclusive digital experience. Here are a few ways you can transform your approach to ensure compliance and inclusivity.

Accessibility Audits

Conducting thorough accessibility audits is the first step to identify and address barriers that prevent users with disabilities from accessing your digital content. Performing these audits using both automated tools and manual evaluations ensure a comprehensive review. Automated tools can quickly identify common issues, while manual evaluations by experts can uncover more nuanced problems.

Regular audits, ideally conducted biannually, are crucial for maintaining compliance. Documenting findings and creating a clear action plan for remediation will help maintain continuous improvement and adherence to EAA standards.

Keeping Content Fresh

As usability standards and technologies evolve, regular reviews and updates ensure that your content remains accessible to all users – and you stay in compliance. Reviews should be more than just periodic checks; they require a systematic approach to continuously integrate new guidelines and user feedback. Establish a routine schedule for content reviews, ideally every six months, to identify and rectify potential issues promptly.

Moreover, stay informed about updates to standards such as WCAG and involve users with disabilities in testing to gain practical insights. This proactive approach ensures compliance and enhances the overall user experience by addressing usability issues before they become significant problems.

Training Your Team

Educating staff on standards and best practices is essential for sustained compliance with the EAA. Training programs should include key principles of digital inclusivity, including the use of assistive technologies and the importance of inclusive design. Tailoring training to different roles within the organization can be beneficial. For example, developers might focus on accessible coding practices, while content creators could concentrate on structuring accessible content and writing effective alt text for images.

Implementing Technical Adaptations

Enhancing digital access involves integrating technical adaptations. Semantic HTML structures content logically, which helps assistive technologies interpret information more accurately, and Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) attributes provide additional context for users navigating complex web applications. Incorporating these solutions from design and development ensures that accessibility is embedded in your digital content from the start. To maintain readability for users with visual impairments, focus on effective keyboard navigation, clear focus indicators, and using color contrast analyzers.

Language Services with Accessibility in Mind

For businesses operating in the EU, adhering to international accessibility standards such as the EU’s WCAG 2.1 and EN 301 549 is mandatory. Effective language services can help with compliance by bridging linguistic and cultural gaps while ensuring access for everyone. By integrating translation accuracy and accessibility standards, language services help businesses create inclusive digital content that meets the diverse needs of all users.

Enhancing Inclusivity with Translation

Culturally appropriate and linguistically accurate translations are vital to make digital content accessible. The goal of localization is to adapt content to meet the cultural and linguistic needs of the target audience. Adaptations often include adjusting idiomatic expressions and cultural references while ensuring the translation retains its original meaning. High-quality translations can prevent misunderstandings and enhance the overall user experience, especially for users relying on assistive technologies.

Adapting Content for Inclusive Access

Modifying content to meet access standards across different languages requires that all digital elements, such as images, videos, and interactive features, are accessible. This can be done by providing alternative text for images, captions for videos, and checking that interactive elements are navigable using assistive technologies.

Creating Content for Everyone, Wherever They Are

Designing for accessibility involves making thoughtful choices that enhance usability for everyone. High color contrast between text and background helps users with visual impairments. Clear, legible fonts improve readability, while intuitive and straightforward navigation structures ensure that all users, including those with cognitive disabilities, can easily find the information they need.

Creating Accessible Content

Accessible content goes beyond simply using plain language. It includes providing meaningful alt text for images, which assists users relying on screen readers. Structuring content with headings, lists, and other formatting elements makes it easier to navigate, especially for those with cognitive disabilities. Writing in a clear and concise manner ensures that all users can understand the content, regardless of their reading abilities.

Testing and Validation

Regular testing is vital. While automated tools can identify potential issues efficiently, involving users with disabilities who can provide real-world feedback helps to identify issues that might be overlooked by the tools. This machine-human approach can ensure that your digital content is truly accessible and will meet the needs of all users. Regular updates and continuous monitoring are also essential to keep up with evolving standards and user needs.

Plan Ahead to Prevent Mistakes

Even with the most careful attention to detail, general accessibility issues and those specific to language services can pose significant challenges in adhering to the EAA’s standards. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Incompatibility with assistive technologies: A prevalent mistake is failing to ensure that digital content is compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers, magnifiers, and speech recognition software. Effective design must incorporate standard web development practices such as semantic HTML and ARIA landmarks, with regular testing across different assistive devices.

Overlooking localization: Another challenge is regularly including usability features as a part of localization. This includes translating and adapting alt text, captions, and navigation aids to meet the linguistic and cultural needs of the target audience. Misinterpreting idiomatic expressions or cultural references can lead to misunderstandings and diminish the effectiveness of the content. Furthermore, testing localized content with native speakers who use assistive technologies can identify barriers that automated tools might miss.

Insufficient training and awareness: Lack of proper training and awareness regarding accessibility standards and best practices is another significant issue. Without adequate training, translators and developers may overlook critical aspects, such as the importance of keyboard navigation, color contrast ratios, and accessible multimedia content. Regular training programs should cover basic inclusivity principles, the use of assistive technologies, and the specific requirements of the EAA.

Neglecting regular updates and continuous monitoring: Compliance with the EAA and other accessibility acts is an ongoing commitment that requires continuous monitoring, not a one-time task. Establishing a regular routine for audits and updates helps identify and rectify issues promptly and maintain compliance as standards evolve.

Moving Forward with Digital Accessibility

Complying with the EAA involves understanding the regulations, integrating accessibility into your digital strategy, and continuously updating your practices. By conducting thorough audits and keeping your content up to date, your business can offer an inclusive digital experience to all users.

For ongoing support and expert advice, partner with Argos Multilingual. Our team is ready to assist you in creating and maintaining accessible digital experiences that can help you meet the EAA requirements. Contact us today to prepare your business for the June 2025 deadline.