We are witnessing a digital age that evolves rapidly, leaving us humans far behind. The encouraging part in all of this is that everything is being refined to a level of perfection. If you’re wondering what the EAA stands for and how it will contribute to a better society and more accessible applications, you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll break down all the details about the EAA.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) sets essential guidelines for digital and physical accessibility across sectors, making products and services more user-friendly for everyone, especially people with disabilities and the elderly. It standardizes what needs to be accessible, from mobile apps to banking interfaces, and encourages innovation by leaving flexibility in how accessibility is achieved. By fostering inclusivity and ensuring smoother public procurement, the EAA not only promotes social equity but also creates opportunities for businesses to reach a broader, more diverse audience across the EU.

Around 80 million people in the EU are in need of better compliance of many apps and sectors. Accessibility is a precondition to ensure their full and equal participation in society. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) aims to improve the functioning of the internal market for accessible products and services by removing barriers created by divergent legislation. The Accessibility Act will establish European-wide functional requirements. This means requirements establishing accessibility principles instead of prescribing the detailed technical solutions.

What will it cover?

The European Accessibility Act will cover the following products and services:

• Digital TV equipment
• computers and operating systems
• ATMs, ticketing and check-in machines
• telephones and smartphones
• Communication technology and equipment
• Passenger transport services
• Self-service devices such as ATMs and ticketing machines
• Banking services
• e-books
• e-commerce

How do apps get affected?

iOS and Android app development will be greatly influenced by EAA especially in terms of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design. Complying with the EAA will mean adopting inclusive design principles from the start. This not only broadens their audience but also reduces barriers to app usage across the EU.

Many of the apps will need to enhance their accessibility by integrating screen readers, text-to-speach, voice control and other features considering that visual, auditory and cognitive impaired users can access them easily. Also the apps must work seamlessly with assistive technology providing smooth user experience for those who rely on these tools.

The improvements will come in many other forms such as in the visual design (color contrast or adjustable text sizes) to simplified navigation through larger and clearly labeled buttons and error prevention techniques such as confirmation messages for important actions or auto-filled simple form structures.

Apps will also benefit from accessible documentation guiding users on utilizing built-in accessibility features. This might include in-app tutorials or external support resources for those in need.

POUR Principles: WCAG Standards foundation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA)

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) previously developed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG is still essential for creating accessible websites, apps and digital documents. Their base is summarized as POUR.

• Perceivable - content should be presented in a way that all information should be visible and available to users in different formats. This includes text alternatives for non-text content, captions for audio/video content and sufficient contrast between text and background for readability.
• Operable - elements must be usable through different methods such as keyboard navigation for those who cannot use a mouse, also the elements must have clear and consistent navigation for easy orientation of the user. Elements or flashing content can cause seizures and thus it should be avoided.
• Understandable - This principle focuses on making sure that users understand information and how to interact with it. It includes simple and clear language, providing error suggestions when user enters incorrect data and the design as well the navigation should be consistent throughout the app/website to help users predict actions.
• Robust - whole content must be compatible with various assistive technologies and accessible across different devices/platforms. This includes compatibility with screen readers or other accessibility tools and using semantic HTML with proper coding standards so that content is reliable and adaptable as technology evolves.

According to WCAG there are three levels of compliance which provide flexibility based on the content's purpose and audience. We at Inellipse strive to reach the highest level of accessibility and work on our end as well in order to make our website highly compliant with EAA and paraparallelly we use our incredibly robust knowledge base to help our clients to gain the highest level of compatibility too.

Deadlines are so close - Act Now to Ensure Accessibility for Your Apps

EAAs adoption is nearly at the edge of tomorrow. The new apps, which are launched after EAAs adoption must comply by June 28, 2025; existing apps,which are already on the market, by June 28, 2030. Ensure your payment and banking apps are accessible and inclusive, empowering users with disabilities to manage their finances independently and securely. Start planning now to meet these critical deadlines. We salute this decision since this grace period allows us professionals and businesses to retrofit and update the current apps and meet compliance fast but safe and smoothly, to gain best results for our clients and users of the apps.

Accessibility on one hand, security on the other!

We must take into consideration that levels of accessibility should be high in banking, payments or/and all other industries, but time pressure and restrictions in requirements can present all parties with different kinds of problems especially on the security levels. One way to prevent major problems is to start early, or even today! We want to provide a road map to success in terms we want you to know how to fight the compliance maturity from day one to maintenance!

Where to start from?

Wide range of products will be influenced, so wether you:

• already have one that need to comply
• Work on one at the moment
• Thinking to develop a product after the EAA gets adopted

The next step-by-step guide will prepare you for EAA Compliance by June 28, 2025.

1. Assess
   
   • Our experienced team can help you review your product or app to identify ant areas where accessibility is lacking. This includes compatibility testing with assistive tech like screen readers, voice control etc.
   • We can get you familiarized with the specific accessibility requirements outlined in the EAA and help you understand how they apply to your product or requirements.
2. Strategize
   
   • The next step is to develop a clear plan for how you`ll make your product EAA-compliant, together with prioritizing areas that need the most immediate attention.
   • Allocating resources is the next logical step. Ensuring your team has the right tools, skills and time to address the changes needed or stepping in with the help of our inellipse team experts that can handle the changes for you.
3. Prepare and support
   
   • Build in the accessibility into the design - We can integrate accessibility features from the beginning of the development process or help you comply your product ensuring UI/UX design follows the principles of color contrast, larger font size or clear and simple navigation.
   • Provide support documentation - We can create resources like in-app guides or tutorials to help users understand and make the most of accessibility features.
4. Implement
   
   • Make necessary changes into the requirements you got, or update your product/app by incorporating the accessibility features.
   • Test rigorously - range of tests must be conducted ensuring the changes are effective and meet EAA standards.
5. Monitor and grow
   
   • Regularly audit your product to ensure it continues to meet accessibility standards. This includes staying up to date with any changes in regulations or best practices.
   • Seek feedback: Continuously gather input from users, especially those with disabilities, to identify areas for further improvement. Accessibility should evolve alongside your product's development.

Step out first for embracing accessibility to gain more inclusive future

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a critical step toward making the digital and physical world more inclusive, benefiting millions of people, particularly those with disabilities. By setting clear guidelines across multiple sectors—from mobile apps to public transport—the EAA encourages businesses to adopt inclusive design principles, improving accessibility for all. We commend the EAA's efforts to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, can fully engage with essential services.

At Inellipse, we’re ready to help our clients navigate this change. With our expertise and robust knowledge base, we’re committed to ensuring that your products meet the new accessibility standards, whether you're launching a new app or updating an existing one. The deadlines are fast approaching—new apps must comply by June 28, 2025, and existing apps by June 28, 2030.

By acting now, businesses can meet these deadlines smoothly, enhancing both user experience and social inclusivity. Accessibility isn’t just a regulatory requirement; it’s an opportunity to reach a broader, more diverse audience, and create a better, more equitable society for all. Let’s work together to make accessibility a priority and build a more inclusive future.