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Is your website compliant with the European Accessibility Act?

Accessibility means making your website usable for everyone – including people with disabilities. That includes those who are blind or have low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, or those with mobility or cognitive impairments.

Good accessibility ensures:

  • Screen readers can interpret your content.
  • Buttons and forms are easy to navigate by keyboard.
  • Text is readable and adaptable.

This isn’t just good practice, it’s becoming law. And the deadline is June 2025!!!

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a new EU directive aimed at removing barriers for people with disabilities across the digital space. It applies to websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, and more.

By June 2025, all businesses in Ireland offering services online must meet specific accessibility standards. This includes private companies, not just public services.

There are some exemptions: 

  • If your business has 10 or less employees.
  • If your business has a turnover of less than €2 million.
  • Undue Burden – you can claim an exemption if complying would create a significant change to your product or service, or a disproportionate financial impact. This exemption requires a documented assessment demonstrating the burden.

Is your website compliant?

Many Irish businesses aren’t ready. Here’s what you should check:

1. Website Structure and Navigation

  • Is your website logical and easy to navigate?
  • Can you move through all your navigation with a keyboard alone?

2. Use of Colour and Contrast

  • Are text and background colours high contrast?
  • Is colour never the only way information is conveyed?

3. Alt Text for Images

  • Do all your images have descriptive alternative text for screen readers?
  • Do those descriptive alternative texts accurately describe the content of the image?
  • Are decorative images correctly marked as such?

4. Forms and Inputs

  • Are all your form fields clearly labelled?
  • Can users complete forms without using a mouse?
  • Using a keyboard to navigate, does the active form field get highlighted?

5. Readable Text and Structure

  • Is your text clear, with good heading structure?
  • Can users resize text without breaking the layout?

6. Mobile Accessibility

  • Does your site function well on mobile for assistive tech users?

 

Why Accessibility matters for SEO and business growth

Apart from complying with the accessibility law, accessible websites are also:

  • Faster and better structured for search engines.
  • More usable for all visitors – not just those with disabilities.
  • Seen as trustworthy and customer-focused.

Accessibility also reduces legal risk. In the EU and Ireland, non-compliance can lead to complaints, lost contracts, fines or legal challenges.

How Designit can help you

We support Irish businesses in making their websites accessible and compliant with Irish and EU law. Our services include:

Make Accessibility part of your digital strategy

Now is the time to start. The 2025 deadline for compliance is fast approaching. We can help you get ready, improve your site for all users, and meet the standards of the European Accessibility Act.

Contact Us Today

Accessibility, Web Design, Inclusion, SEO.

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