The digital world is evolving, and so are the rules that shape it. By June 28, 2025, all digital products and services in the EU must comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. That’s thanks to the EU Accessibility Act (EAA), a regulation designed to make the online experience accessible to all, especially people with disabilities.
If your company has more than 10 employees or generates more than €2 million in revenue, this applies to you. And if you’re in e-commerce, finance, education, transportation, or tech, it’s time to get serious about accessibility.
Why accessibility matters
At its core, the EAA is about inclusivity, ensuring 80 million people in the EU (and over 1 billion globally) can access digital services without barriers. This includes people who:
-Are blind or have low vision.
-Have difficulty hearing or speaking.
-Have limited mobility or dexterity.
-Experience cognitive challenges.
-Are sensitive to flashing visuals.
Beyond inclusivity, the EAA also creates a level playing field for businesses across the EU, setting clear rules for accessibility.
Accessibility actually benefits everybody
Accessibility isn’t just for people with permanent disabilities. It improves UX for everyone. As my colleague, Lead Creative Developer, Casper Juel puts it.
“We all experience temporary ‘disabilities’ throughout the day. Like, when we’re using a phone with one hand while holding a coffee with the other. When you make your website accessible, you’re creating a better, smoother experience for all users, regardless of how they interact with your product.”
We can all be disabled in permanent, temporary or situational circumstances. An example is sight. The permanent disability is blindness. You can be temporarily disabled due to an eye injury. Finally, a situation disability can be bright sunlight which makes it hard to read anything on your screen.
Accessibility works towards helping for permanent, temporary, and situational disabilities.
Understanding this shows how accessible solution is much more than just adhering to regulatory requirements. It’s also about creating an inclusive experience for all users in various circumstances. It’s good UX. And from our experience, UX is also good business.
What does WCAG 2.1 Level AA require?
To comply with the EAA, your website or digital product must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, which focus on these key areas:
1. Readable and Legible Text - Maintain sufficient color contrast for readability. Allow users to resize text up to 200% without breaking design.
2. Keyboard Navigation - Ensure all content can be accessed without a mouse, crucial for users with mobility impairments.
3. Alternative Text for Visuals - Add alt text to images so screen readers can describe them.Provide captions and transcripts for videos and audio.
4. Simplified Navigation - Use clear headings and a consistent layout. Let users skip repetitive content (think: “Skip to Main Content” buttons).
5. Accessible Forms - Label form fields clearly. Offer helpful error messages that guide users on how to fix mistakes.
6. Adaptability for Different Devices - Make sure content works on different screen sizes and with assistive tech.
7. Avoid Relying on Sensory Cues - Instead of “Click the red button,” say “Click the Submit button.” Use multiple indicators (text, icons, patterns) to convey meaning.
How StormGeo turned accessibility goals into action
At Signifly, we help brands bake accessibility into their digital experiences, from design to development. One example? Our work with Norwegian weather intelligence company StormGeo.
Once again, Casper will contribute. He worked on the project and got some insights from the process:
“One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring a good UX and accessibility when using external tools. We can't always control everything, but we continuously test and try to optimise where we can.”
“We follow web standards for semantic HTML, so browsers natively support lists, buttons, navigation, and forms. We also write automated tests to ensure compliance.”
Curious about the tools we use? Casper’s go-to accessibility toolkit includes:
Jest-axe → Automates accessibility testsLighthouse → Performance & accessibility audits Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool → Checks contrast & semantic HTMLChrome DevTools → Manual inspection & debugging
How to make accessibility a priority
The key to accessibility? Start early and stay proactive.
-Alignment – Set your accessibility goals: just meeting the minimum or aiming for best-in-class
-Design Phase – Bake accessibility into wireframes and test before development.
-Development Integration – Implement accessibility best practices as part of daily workflows.
-Pre-Launch Testing – Conduct thorough accessibility audits before going live.
-Ongoing Monitoring – Keep testing and improving after launch.
June 2025 is around the corner, are you ready?
The countdown to compliance has begun, and accessibility can’t be an afterthought. By acting now, you’re not just meeting regulations, you’re unlocking new opportunities and building better experiences for all.
Is your company prepared for the EAA? Reach out and let us help you get ready for accessibility.
