In today’s digitally-driven world, accessibility isn’t just a “nice-to-have” – it’s a fundamental part of compliance and innovation. By ensuring websites, apps, and digital services are usable by people with disabilities, organizations fulfill legal obligations and open new markets. In the European Union, tens of millions of people have disabilities, and EU policies treat digital access as a right. Simple features (like proper color contrast, alt text for images, or captions on videos) help everyone – from someone with low vision to an elderly user on a crowded train. As the EU Commission notes, even basic improvements (e.g. text-to-speech or captions) “can help everyone” and enable businesses to reach a larger, “mostly untapped” customer base (an estimated 100 million people in the EU with some disability) digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. In short, digital compliance today must include accessibility if organizations want to stay ahead legally, ethically, and commercially.

Accessibility as a Core Compliance Element

Accessibility is enshrined in European law and policy as part of the right to equal access. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the UN Disability Rights Convention (ratified by the EU) guarantee that persons with disabilities “have the right to access” information and communication technologies on an equal basis with others digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. The EU Web Accessibility Directive (2016) already obliges all public-sector websites and mobile apps to meet common standards (WCAG 2.1 AA), complete with public accessibility statements and user feedback mechanisms digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. Building on this, the European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) harmonizes rules for private products and services, requiring things like ATMs, e‑commerce sites, smartphones, banking apps, transport ticketing kiosks and more to be accessible. In practice, this means following the WCAG guidelines – web content must be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust (POUR) for all users siteimprove.com. In fact, the EAA explicitly promotes a “design for all” approach aligned with the UN Convention on Disability Rights. With EU deadlines near, regulated sectors (healthcare, finance, energy, government) must proactively integrate accessibility into their compliance programs – it’s no longer optional.

European Laws and Standards on Accessibility

EU regulations and harmonized standards make clear that accessibility is part of the compliance landscape. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) takes effect 28 June 2025 accessible-eu-centre.ec.europa.eu. After that date, any covered product or service sold or updated in the EU must meet accessibility rules. The EAA’s scope is broad: it explicitly covers consumer electronics (TVs, smartphones, PCs), service terminals (ATMs, ticket machines), public transport booking, banking services, e-books and e-commerce platforms accessible-eu-centre.ec.europa.eu. All of these must conform to defined accessibility requirements. Failing to do so exposes companies to enforcement by member states – including fines and other penalties accessible-eu-centre.ec.europa.eu.

Underpinning the directives is the European ICT accessibility standard EN 301 549 (“Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services”). This harmonized standard (used in procurement law) requires software and hardware to meet accessibility criteria. EN 301 549 currently integrates WCAG 2.1 AA (for websites, apps, documents) and other ICT requirements etsi.org. A revised version (v4.1.1) is planned for 2025 to support the EAA’s wider scope etsi.org. In practice, following WCAG 2.1 (and now WCAG 2.2, released in late 2024 w3.org) is the surest way to comply with EU rules. Even if your organization is private, other EU laws like the Web Accessibility Directive (for any sites/apps used by public contracts or services) or domestic equality laws can apply. And under the GDPR and related data-protection laws, organizations must uphold fairness and transparency – which arguably requires digital content (like cookie banners and data request forms) to be accessible to all users tenintel.com. In short, complying with EU digital standards means embedding accessibility: from content strategy to UX design to IT procurement, accessibility criteria are now compliance criteria.

Risks of Non-Compliance

The stakes for ignoring accessibility are high. From a legal standpoint, failing to meet EU accessibility requirements can trigger enforcement action and fines. Member states must ensure “effective, proportionate and dissuasive” penalties for violations siteimprove.com. Even beyond the EAA, the EU Web Directive (for public sites) and national disability laws allow lawsuits or sanctions if digital services exclude disabled users. Non-compliance also carries reputational risk: operating an inaccessible site or app can quickly lead to negative publicity and consumer backlash. As one EU advisory site bluntly warns, missing the June 2025 EAA deadline “could result in penalties, diminish your market reach, [and] erode your brand reputation and consumer trust” siteimprove.com. That’s doubly true in regulated fields like healthcare or finance, where trust and inclusion are core to mission. Additionally, inaccessible digital designs often worsen user experience for everyone (e.g. seniors, people in noisy environments, or non-native speakers), meaning companies lose customers and innovation leads if they exclude a significant user base. In short, non-compliance puts organizations at legal and commercial risk.

Practical Steps to Improve Accessibility

Building accessibility into your digital compliance program involves deliberate actions at each stage of a project. Key steps include:

  • Audit & Assessment:  Begin with an accessibility audit of your websites, apps, documents and media. Use a combination of automated tools (e.g. WAVE, Axe) and manual testing (including with assistive technologies) to identify issues against WCAG 2.1/2.2 and EN 301 549 criteria.
  • Fix Known Issues:  Address the most common gaps first: add meaningful alt text to images, ensure keyboard navigation, provide captions/transcripts for video/audio, use high-contrast color palettes, label form fields clearly, and structure content with headings. Fixing these issues goes to the “source” – accessibility overlays or widgets are not a substitute for robust design digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu.
  • Policy & Documentation:  Establish formal accessibility policies (for content creation, design, and procurement) so that every new digital asset is built to standards. Prepare an Accessibility Statement for your website (as required by the EU Web Directive) disclosing compliance status and a feedback contact digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. Also ensure tools like cookie banners and data-request forms are usable by people with disabilities to meet GDPR transparency obligations tenintel.comtenintel.com.
  • Training & Culture:  Train developers, designers and content authors on accessibility best practices. Make it a team responsibility rather than an afterthought. For example, involve people with disabilities in user testing or as consultants – their perspective is invaluable. Creating internal “accessibility champions” or checklists can keep standards high.
  • Continuous Monitoring:  Accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time checkbox. Set up regular monitoring and maintenance: schedule periodic audits, use feedback tools to let users report issues, and stay current with standards (WCAG 2.2 and beyond). In the EU, public bodies must monitor and report on accessibility every three years digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu, and private companies should similarly review their compliance posture to avoid drift.

By following these practical steps – audits, fixes, policies, training and monitoring – organizations can demonstrate due diligence and, more importantly, create digital experiences that work for everyone.

Get Started with Makeni Bent Digital Consulting

Accessible, compliant design often requires expert guidance.  Makeni Bent Digital Consulting specializes in helping regulated businesses and nonprofits navigate digital transformation with compliance and inclusion built in. We work with clients to design end-to-end solutions – from strategy and content planning to UI/UX development – that meet EU standards (WCAG, EN 301 549, EAA, etc.) while driving innovation. Our consultants can conduct detailed accessibility audits, train your teams, and implement the right technologies so that your organization stays ahead of evolving regulations.

Don’t wait for enforcement deadlines to force your hand. Reach out to Makeni Bent Digital Consulting to schedule a consultation on your accessibility and compliance needs. We’ll help you turn regulatory requirements into an opportunity for innovation and growth, ensuring your digital presence is inclusive, compliant, and sustainable.

Contact us today to learn how we can help your organization thrive in a more accessible digital world.