Preparing for the EU Accessibility Act

With the EU Accessibility Act on the horizon, now is the time for organisations to step up and make sure their digital content is accessible before June 2025. Sacha Brinkley explains

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act is a directive to ensure certain products and services are accessible to persons with disabilities.

It was transposed into Irish law in 2022 and will apply in Ireland from 28 June 2025.

The sectors in scope of this act are commerce (including e-commerce), banking, telecoms, transport and technology. These are very broad and cover a range of companies.

For most, e-commerce would probably fall under this legislation, meaning any websites that sell services will need to be accessible.

Non-compliance and exemptions

There are ramifications for non-compliance, which include:

• a fine (€5,000) or imprisonment of up to six months or both;
• a fine of up to €60,000 or imprisonment of up to 18 months or both; or
• litigation.

However, there are some limited exemptions.

If your product or service fundamentally changes due to this legislation, or if compliance would create an undue burden for your company, the organisation may be exempt.

In both cases, it is essential to ensure you have the proper documentation for the relevant authorities, especially if it leads to litigation.

Steps to accessibility

With the deadline looming, making digital content and services accessible can be seen as an onerous, overwhelming task.

However, there are some practical steps that you can initiate today to help you get ahead of the curve.

• Stay informed: Stay updated on the latest news concerning the directive and regulations, as this will guide the necessary steps for you or your clients to ensure accessibility.

• Accessibility audit: Consider conducting an accessibility audit of your online offerings. While this can be expensive and may not be feasible for everyone, it is worthwhile if you have the extra budget. If you are using a third-party service to host your website, such as Wix or SquareSpace, check what accessibility measures they have implemented.

• Accessibility statement: After your accessibility audit, write an accessibility statement on your website outlining what’s accessible currently, what isn’t accessible, and what you’re working on to make accessible. Invite your users to email you with any concerns or feedback. Being transparent and honest about your accessibility journey will not only demonstrate to users your dedication to inclusion but will also help your case if it comes to litigation.

• Accessible content: Going forward, make sure all your content is accessible, as well as your marketing.

Easy wins

The quick wins all involve your digital content. Some require a little more effort than others, but if you can follow these steps then you’ll be well on your way to compliance come June 2025.

PDFs

When creating PDFs, consider the following:

• Use accessibility tagging in your PDF so screen readers can navigate your content. This can be done in Word or PowerPoint before exporting to PDF.

• Write alternative text for every image unless decorative.

• Provide contact details for an accessible version of your document (for example, in a Word or Excel format) to show that you are being inclusive and compliant.

• Consider ditching PDFs entirely – could this document be a webpage instead?

Images

• It is important to consider colour contrast. Proper attention to this detail can significantly enhance visual clarity and overall effectiveness in design. You can check colour contrast online.

• Use text sparingly and make sure your font size is big enough to be legible – at a minimum, the font should be 12pt.

Social media and newsletters

• Always provide alternative text for your images.

• Write your hashtags in CamelCase. For example, #charteredaccountantsireland should be #CharteredAccountantsIreland. Not only is it easier to read, but you also avoid potentially embarrassing mistakes.

Audio and visual

• When setting up online events, use headphones and a dedicated microphone rather than rely on laptop hardware. This reduces ambient noise and distractions for all users, as well as those with accessibility and sensory needs.

• Provide captions for your video and transcripts for your audio, as well as a descriptive voiceover when you just have music playing.

• You may need a sign language interpreter at events where someone deaf is present – check with the attendee first, however.

Key takeaways

With the rise of artificial intelligence technology and accessibility regulations, we’ll be seeing a digital revolution over the next five years when it comes to digital inclusion.

By embedding the steps outlined above in your everyday practices, you’ll get a good head start on your digital inclusion journey.

Sacha Brinkley is Content Editor at Chartered Accountants Ireland