European Accessibility Act: What really changes for your website? Don't panic!

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June 28, 2025 is just around the corner, and with it comes the start of the European Accessibility Act (EAA). If you run a website, you’ve probably heard some mixed—and maybe even alarming—stuff about new requirements and possible fines.

Relax: this article is here to clear things up, explain in plain words what the EAA really means, and most importantly, put your mind at ease.

It’s not some huge bureaucratic nightmare or a mad dash to avoid hefty penalties, but rather a solid step toward a more inclusive, accessible web—a principle that, as you’ll see, lines up perfectly with the good web design practices you’re likely already using.

We’ll look at what the EAA actually is, who really needs to comply (and good news for many small operations), how accessibility often boils down to good design instead of complex tech tweaks, and what tools—like those in WordPress, Elementor, or plugins like WP Accessibility—can help you handle this without sweating it.

Making your site more accessible might be easier and more rewarding than you think.

What the European Accessibility Act (EAA) Is and Why You Don’t Need to Freak Out

In simple terms, this is Directive (EU) 2019/882, a European law that sets common accessibility requirements for a bunch of digital products and services sold or offered in the EU.

The main goal is both noble and practical: to knock down barriers that stop people with disabilities (there are over 87 million in the EU) from fully using digital tech and services, while also creating a smoother single market for businesses.

But what exactly does “accessibility” mean here? It means designing products and services (including e-commerce sites and other service websites) so that everyone can see, use, and understand them, no matter their physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities. Think keyboard-only navigation, alt text for images that screen readers can read, or zoomable text without breaking your layout.

The buzzword is harmonization.

Before the EAA, accessibility rules varied wildly across member states, leaving businesses confused and users blocked. The EAA fixes that by setting common functional requirements.

It’s worth noting that the directive focuses on the outcome (your product or service must be accessible), not prescribing super strict tech specs on how to get there. That gives businesses the flexibility to pick the tech solutions that work best for them, often following established international standards like the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).

So, no panic.

The EAA isn’t some bureaucratic monster designed to make your life hard. It’s a natural move toward a fairer, more inclusive digital world—aligned with ethical and good design principles everyone already respects.

It’s not about overhauling your site overnight, but about gradually adopting practices that benefit all users, not just those with disabilities.

Good News: Microbusiness Exemption

Here’s one of the most reassuring bits for many small operations: the European Accessibility Act has specific exemptions. Article 35 of Directive (EU) 2019/882 says that accessibility rules don’t apply to microbusinesses providing services. That’s huge.

So what’s a “microbusiness”? It’s not random—there are clear EU criteria. According to the European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, a microbusiness meets both of these:

Staff headcount: Fewer than 10 employees.
Annual turnover OR total balance sheet: No more than €2 million.

If you tick both boxes, the services you offer on your site (like online sales or info covered by the EAA) are exempt from direct accessibility rules.

This means freelancers, pros, artisans, and most small shops—essentially the backbone of the economy—can breathe easy. You won’t have to immediately tackle EAA compliance, which could be a heavy lift.

One caveat: the exemption only covers services. If your microbusiness sells products that fall under the EAA (computers, smartphones, e-readers, etc.), those products still need to meet accessibility requirements.

Even if you’re exempt, it’s worth thinking about accessibility strategically. An accessible site reaches a wider audience (not just people with permanent disabilities, but also older users, those with temporary limitations, or anyone in tricky browsing situations), boosts SEO, and delivers a better user experience overall. Think of it as a smart investment: making your site easier for everyone pays off.

For more:

Web Accessibility: Not Rocket Science, Just Good Design (You’re Probably Already Doing It)

When you hear “accessibility requirements,” you might imagine crazy technical code changes or ripping your site apart. But in many cases, it’s much more encouraging. A lot of the accessibility basics the EAA implicitly demands match the good web design practices you (or your web designer) are likely already following.

Think about it: a well-designed site is easy to navigate, has clear, structured content, looks good on different devices, and delivers a smooth user experience. Those are the same goals accessibility pushes for. Here are some concrete examples:

Logical Content Structure: Using headings (H1, H2, H3...) helps both SEO and readability for everyone, and it’s crucial for screen reader users who jump between sections.
Alt Text for Images: Describing images with alt attributes is basic SEO practice, but it’s essential for blind users relying on screen readers to understand what the image shows.
Adequate Color Contrast: Ensuring text stands out against its background isn’t just about aesthetics—it helps users with visual challenges, mild color blindness, aging eyes, or anyone browsing in bright light (like outdoors).
Clear, Consistent Navigation: An intuitive menu, descriptive link text (avoid generic “click here”), and logical site structure help everyone, and they’re critical for keyboard-only navigation or assistive tools.
Responsive Design: A site that adapts to screens of all sizes (desktop, tablet, mobile) is standard nowadays, and it’s also an accessibility requirement, letting users zoom in or browse comfortably regardless of device.

The good news is that modern platforms like WordPress and popular page builders like Elementor are built with these best practices in mind. They offer tools that make creating accessible sites way easier, often without deep technical know-how. Elementor, for example, highlights semantic code structure, ARIA support, keyboard navigation, and focus indicators in their own articles (The European Accessibility Act Is Coming: Here’s What You Need To Know; How Do I Test For Web Accessibility?).

So before you see the EAA as an insurmountable hurdle, take stock of your site through these good design lenses. You might find you’re closer to compliance than you think, just because you’ve always aimed for quality user experiences.

No-Stress Tools to Check and Improve Accessibility

If the thought of manually checking every detail makes you uneasy, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to go it alone. There are plenty of tools designed to spot accessibility issues and help you fix them with just a few clicks.

As mentioned, Elementor has built-in accessibility features in its editor: semantic widgets, ARIA attribute options, keyboard navigation checks, and focus indicators. That’s a strong first step.

Another handy tool in the Elementor/WordPress world is Ally Web Accessibility, a free plugin that adds a usability widget for visitors (text resizing, contrast tweaks, grayscale mode, reading mask) and auto-generates a customizable Accessibility Statement draft.

If you use WordPress, WP Accessibility is another go-to plugin. It tackles common theme or default setup issues, acting as a quick fix for several technical hurdles:

Skip Links: Hidden links that let keyboard or screen reader users jump straight to main content.
Improved Focus Outline: Makes it clear which element has focus during keyboard navigation.
Common Fixes: Adds missing labels to search or comment forms, improves generic “Read more” links, removes problematic tabindex or redundant title attributes.
Image Management: Flags images without alt text in your media library and forces alt text in the Classic Editor.
Contrast Checker: A basic tool to test color contrast ratios between two colors.

An additional verification system, available as an extension for Google Chrome, is Accessibility Insight.
Very comprehensive, it allows you to check accessibility status interactively on the website. The visual help is very convenient and useful for understanding exactly which elements are being analyzed.

Besides these corrective plugins, you’ve got browser extensions like WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) or axe DevTools, and built-in dev tools like Google Lighthouse in Chrome, which scan pages and flag issues from low contrast to missing ARIA tags.

Running these tools regularly gives you a snapshot of your site’s accessibility health and pinpoints where to focus your efforts.

Key Takeaways to Keep You Chill

Microbusiness Exemption: If you have fewer than 10 employees and under €2 million in turnover or balance sheet, your online services are most likely exempt from direct EAA obligations. Big relief for many.
Accessibility = Good Design: Many EAA functional requirements are just good web design that boosts usability for all users. Your site is probably closer to compliant than you think.
Support Tools Exist: You don’t have to go it alone or become an accessibility guru overnight. Platforms like WordPress, builders like Elementor, and plugins like WP Accessibility offer practical help to implement and check accessibility.

The message isn’t alarm—it's awareness and thoughtful action.

Check if you qualify for the exemption. See accessibility as a value-add that widens your audience, enhances your brand, and simply makes your site better.

The EAA is a step toward a more inclusive digital future, a journey you can take without fear, using the resources and tools you already have.

References & Further Reading

Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 17, 2019, on the accessibility requirements for products and services (European Accessibility Act): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/882/oj/
Commission Recommendation of May 6, 2003, on the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (2003/361/EC): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32003H0361
Elementor Blog: "The European Accessibility Act Is Coming: Here’s What You Need To Know" - https://elementor.com/blog/european-accessibility-act/
Elementor Blog: "How Do I Test For Web Accessibility?" - https://elementor.com/blog/check-accessibility/
WordPress Plugin Directory: "WP Accessibility" - https://it.wordpress.org/plugins/wp-accessibility/