Enda Gallen, Senior UX/UI Designer

It’s More Than Just Compliance

Accessibility is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s a legal requirement, a business advantage, and most importantly, a way to ensure everyone can interact with your brand. As regulations like the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) continue to evolve, businesses that fall behind risk legal action, reputational  damage, and lost revenue.

But accessibility doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By treating it as a structured, step-by-step process, your business can not only meet compliance standards but also create digital experiences that are better for all users.

At Connelly Partners, we use an end-to-end process to help organizations embed accessibility into their design, development, and long-term strategy. Here’s how it works.

Understand the Law

Accessibility law varies depending on where your organization operates and who your users are. In the EU, the EAA will require digital products and services to meet accessibility standards from 2025. In the US, the ADA and Section 508 already require compliance for many businesses and public services.

The challenge? Regulations are often written in dense, technical language. We translate them into clear, practical requirements that make sense for your business. You’ll know which rules apply, what deadlines you’re working toward, and what “good” looks like in practice.

This first step turns a confusing legal obligation into a manageable starting point.

Map an Accessibility Strategy

Once you know the rules, you need a plan. Accessibility isn’t a one-off project – it’s an ongoing commitment that touches design, development, content, and operations.

We work with businesses to map a tailored accessibility strategy, including:

• Priorities: Which fixes or updates will have the biggest impact fastest?
• Timelines: How to phase improvements around your release cycles and resources.
• Ownership: Who in your organization is responsible for what, from testing to content updates?

This roadmap ensures accessibility doesn’t slip between departments or stall after launch. Instead, it becomes an integrated part of how your digital team works.

Prepare an Accessibility Statement

Transparency builds trust. Most regulations require an Accessibility Statement published on your website or app. But beyond compliance, this statement is an opportunity to show your audience that you take accessibility seriously.

We help businesses draft clear, user-friendly statements that:

• Outline your accessibility goals and progress
• Share contact routes for users who need assistance
• Commit to ongoing improvements as your offerings develop

Done right, this statement signals accountability to regulators and empathy to your customers.

Complete an Accessibility Audit

An accessibility audit is the heart of the process. It tells you where you stand and what needs attention.

We conduct expert reviews against the WCAG 2.2 AA standards, combining:

• Automated testing tools to catch common code issues
• Manual reviews by specialists to identify usability barriers that tools can’t see

This audit produces a clear list of issues, categorised by severity and user impact. Think of it as your accessibility health check, giving you the data to take action.

Start Fixing Issues

Knowing the problems is only half the battle – you need solutions. Many organizations struggle here, because accessibility fixes aren’t always straightforward.

Our developers and designers work through a prioritised backlog, tackling the most critical barriers first.

We provide:

• Practical guidance on how to implement changes for your developers OR implementation of accessibility fixes by our own development team
• Reusable patterns and components in accessible design systems for consistency
• Comprehension QA and UAT with accessibility experts and reviews with accessible technology users

The result is not just quick fixes, but long-term improvements that prevent the same issues from happening again.

Monitor Compliance and Regular Reporting

Accessibility isn’t “done” once you’ve fixed your site. New content, features, and updates can reintroduce barriers. That’s why the final step is ongoing monitoring and reporting.

We can provide:

• Regular audits to check compliance as your site evolves
• Automated testing for continuous feedback
• Easy-to-read progress reports that keep all stakeholders informed

This monitoring protects you from slipping out of compliance and demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity year-round.

Why This Matters for Business

Following this process keeps you legally compliant – but the benefits go much further:

• Reach more customers: One in four people live with some kind of disability. Accessibility ensures you don’t shut out potential users.
• Improve user experience: Clearer navigation, stronger contrast, and better structure help everyone, not just those with disabilities.
• Strengthen your brand: Companies that prioritise inclusivity build trust and loyalty with their audiences.
• Future-proof your digital assets: Accessibility reduces technical debt by making your site more robust and adaptable to future devices and standards.

In other words: accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good business.

Building Accessibility Into Your Future

The landscape of digital accessibility is shifting quickly. With the EAA now live and the ADA already active, businesses that act now will not only avoid fines but also gain a competitive edge.

At Connelly Partners, we work with organizations to help them understand where they stand, where they need to be, and how to get there – thoughtfully and effectively. Whether you’re starting with an audit or developing a long-term strategy, we’re here to support you at every step.

If you’re interested in learning more about how accessibility can become a natural part of how your business grows and connects, let’s talk.