Enda Gallen, Senior UX/UI Designer
Time is running out. On 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) becomes enforceable across the EU, bringing with it strict accessibility standards for digital services and products. If your business isn’t compliant, you’re not just risking legal penalties. You’re missing out on a rapidly growing market, damaging your reputation, and falling behind more forward-thinking competitors.
Accessibility is no longer a ‘nice to have’. It’s a business-critical requirement – and the brands that act now will be the ones that thrive.
What Is the European Accessibility Act?
The EAA is an EU directive designed to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to everyday digital products and services – from banking apps to e-commerce platforms, e-books to transport ticketing systems.
First passed in 2019, enforcement begins 28 June 2025, with full compliance for legacy services required by 2030. Crucially, any updates to existing platforms after June 2025 must meet the new standards immediately.
If you offer digital services in the EU and you’re not a micro-enterprise (under 10 staff and €2M turnover), this applies to you. That includes:
- Marketing agencies managing digital properties
- Brands with consumer-facing websites or apps
- Providers of online services like banking, e-commerce, or streaming
- Distributors and importers of electronic goods
Why It Matters: Business Risk and Opportunity
For marketing leaders, brand owners, and digital teams, the EAA represents more than a compliance checkbox – it’s a strategic turning point. Here’s why:
1. Legal Exposure
Non-compliance in Ireland can result in fines of up to €60,000, imprisonment, and personal liability for company directors. Irish regulators are mandated to enforce these rules with teeth.
2. Missed Market Reach
Over 85 million people in Europe live with a disability – a massive market segment. Ignoring accessibility means excluding a sizable and loyal audience with growing buying power. Additionally, SEO benefits of accessible design push you higher in the competitive search space.
3. Brand Reputation
Consumers and partners are paying attention. Demonstrating accessibility sends a clear message about your brand’s values. Falling short risks alienating audiences – and being publicly called out.
4. Innovation and Efficiency
Accessibility drives better design. Think voice interfaces, screen readers, or captioned content – features born from accessible design that now benefit everyone.
5. Competitive Advantage
While many businesses scramble at the last minute, those who act now gain the edge. You’ll launch faster, iterate better, and scale with confidence – all while meeting your compliance obligations.
What Compliance Actually Requires
The EAA requires that digital services are:
- Perceivable – content is accessible in multiple ways (e.g. alt text, captions)
- Operable – usable without a mouse (e.g. keyboard navigation)
- Understandable – intuitive, consistent, and readable
- Robust – compatible with assistive technologies
These principles are closely aligned with WCAG 2.2 Level AA, the international benchmark for digital accessibility. The success of each principal can be empirically verified through its success criteria, meaning the path to compliance is clear, measurable, and achievable.
The Act means your websites, mobile apps, online platforms, self-service kiosks, and customer support systems must be accessible by default, and stay that way through every product iteration. While this may seem like a major challenge, you have a partner ready to help!
Your Digital Partner in Compliance – and Beyond
At Connelly Partners, we don’t just help you avoid risk – we help you unlock opportunity.
Our team of accessibility-certified UX designers, strategists, and developers work hand-in-hand with your internal teams to ensure your digital ecosystem is compliant, accessible, and high-performing. Here’s how we deliver value:
- Accessibility Audits – Identify WCAG and EAA gaps across your digital products
- UX and UI Redesign – Create intuitive but compliant interfaces without sacrificing creativity
- Accessible Design Systems – Build scalable component libraries for consistency across channels
- Brand Accessibility Guidelines – Align accessibility with your visual identity and tone of voice
- Accessibility Compliance Monitoring and Maintenance – Ongoing support to ensure compliance, even as your products and services continue to grow and evolve
Our approach doesn’t just tick boxes. We future-proof your platforms and position your brand as a leader in accessible design.
Ready or Not – The EAA Deadline Is Approaching
With the imminent launch of the EAA, now is the time to act – don’t wait to scramble for compliance. The businesses moving today will be the ones who build trust, gain market share, and lead the next generation of digital experience.
We’re here to guide you through every step – from audit to implementation, strategy to scale.
Let’s make accessibility part of your competitive advantage.
Ready to make your business accessible to all? Talk with Connelly Partners today.
