With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline of June 22, 2025, rapidly approaching, businesses across the EU are under pressure to ensure their websites, digital services, and products are accessible to all. Compliance is not just a legal obligation; it’s a critical business priority that, if neglected, could result in hefty fines, legal action, and reputational damage. The time to act is now, and the first step toward ensuring compliance is an accessibility audit.
In this blog, we will outline the urgency of becoming EAA compliant, walk you through the step-by-step process to achieve compliance, and explain why an accessibility audit from Sweans is crucial to your success.
The Urgency of EAA Compliance
The EAA is set to revolutionize the digital landscape by making accessibility a mandatory standard for all businesses operating within the EU. Non-compliance after June 22, 2025, can lead to:
- Financial Penalties: Fines and other penalties imposed by regulatory bodies.
- Legal Risks: Potential lawsuits from individuals or advocacy groups.
- Business Risks: Exclusion from public procurement and loss of customer trust.
Given the high stakes, the time to start your compliance journey is now. Procrastination could leave your business scrambling to make last-minute changes, which is costly and less effective. By acting immediately, you can ensure a smooth transition to full compliance.
Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving EAA Compliance
1. Start with an Accessibility Audit
Why It’s Important: An accessibility audit is the foundation of your compliance journey. It identifies where your website, digital services, or products fall short of accessibility standards, providing a clear roadmap for remediation.
Action:
- Schedule an Audit with Sweans: Our team of experts will conduct a comprehensive audit, using both automated tools and manual testing to uncover all potential accessibility issues.
2. Prioritize Identified Issues
Why It’s Important: Not all accessibility issues are equal. Prioritizing them based on their impact on users and compliance requirements allows you to address the most critical problems first.
Action:
- High-Priority Issues: Focus on issues that severely impact usability, such as navigation problems, lack of keyboard accessibility, or missing alt text for images.
- Create a Remediation Plan: Develop a timeline and action plan to address these issues, ensuring high-priority problems are fixed first.
3. Implement Necessary Changes
Why It’s Important: Compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about creating a website or product that everyone can use. Implementing the changes identified in your audit is a crucial step.
Action:
- Website Adjustments: Make necessary changes to your website’s structure, design, and content. This might include adding alt text, improving color contrast, and ensuring all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard.
- Product Updates: If your business sells physical products, ensure these are usable by individuals with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies.
4. Test Changes with Real Users
Why It’s Important: Real-world testing ensures that your changes genuinely improve accessibility and meet user needs.
Action:
- User Testing: Engage users who rely on assistive technologies to test your website or products. Collect feedback and make further adjustments as necessary.
- Iterate Based on Feedback: Accessibility is an ongoing process. Be prepared to iterate on your changes to continually enhance user experience.
5. Document Your Compliance Efforts
Why It’s Important: Keeping detailed records of your compliance efforts can protect your business in case of regulatory scrutiny and demonstrates your commitment to accessibility.
Action:
- Accessibility Statement: Publish an accessibility statement on your website detailing your commitment, the steps you’ve taken, and how users can report any issues.
- Maintain Documentation: Keep records of all audits, remediation efforts, and ongoing monitoring to demonstrate compliance if needed.
- Ensure Ongoing Monitoring and Updates
Why It’s Important: Accessibility standards and technologies evolve, and so should your compliance efforts. Regular monitoring ensures that your website or products remain accessible over time.
Action:
- Regular Audits: Schedule periodic audits, especially after major updates or changes to your website or products.
- Continuous Improvement: Stay informed about new accessibility guidelines and best practices, and make necessary updates to maintain compliance.
Why Sweans’ Website Accessibility Audit is Essential
Achieving EAA compliance is a complex process, and an expert-guided accessibility audit is your best starting point. Here’s why Sweans should be your go-to partner:
- Comprehensive Audits: We conduct thorough audits that combine automated tools with manual testing by accessibility experts, ensuring no issue is overlooked.
- Expert Remediation: Our team not only identifies issues but also provides actionable recommendations and helps implement changes to ensure full compliance.
- Ongoing Support: Accessibility is an ongoing process. We offer continuous support to help you maintain compliance as standards and technologies evolve.
Conclusion: Don’t Wait—Act Now
The June 22, 2025, deadline for EAA compliance is approaching faster than you think. The cost of inaction is too high, but by starting with an accessibility audit today, you can ensure your business is not only compliant but also more inclusive and accessible to all.
Call to Action
Ready to start your journey to EAA compliance? Contact Sweans today to schedule your accessibility audit and take the first step toward meeting the European Accessibility Act requirements before the deadline.
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