Accessibility standards

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a landmark EU directive aimed at improving the accessibility of products and services across member states. Coming into full effect by June 2025, the EAA sets common accessibility requirements for key digital services—including e-commerce websites, banking platforms, transport apps, e-books, and more. Based on WCAG 2.1 and aligned with the EN 301 549 standard, the directive ensures that businesses serving the EU market make their digital offerings usable by people with disabilities. It represents a major step toward harmonized, inclusive access across Europe’s digital economy.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) establishes a harmonized legal framework across EU member states to improve the accessibility of key products and services, including digital technologies. While the directive sets common accessibility requirements, each member state is responsible for transposing the EAA into national law by June 2022, with full compliance required by June 2025. This means that although the EAA creates unified standards at the EU level, the exact legal enforcement mechanisms and penalties are decided on in each country as they implement the directive within their own legal systems.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the international standard for making websites, applications, and digital content accessible to people with disabilities. Developed by the W3C, WCAG provides a framework organized around four key principles: content must be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (often shortened to “POUR”). The guidelines are divided into three levels of conformance: A (basic), AA (recommended), and AAA (highest). Most legal requirements and best practices aim for WCAG 2.1 Level AA, which covers essential aspects like keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, sufficient color contrast, and clear content structure.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a U.S. civil rights law enacted in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and digital services. While the ADA doesn’t specifically mention websites, U.S. courts and the Department of Justice interpret it to include digital accessibility—especially for businesses classified as “places of public accommodation.” This means websites and apps must be usable by people with disabilities, often guided by WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard for compliance.

EN 301 549 is the European standard for digital accessibility, developed to ensure that information and communication technologies (ICT)—including websites, mobile apps, software, documents, and hardware—are usable by people with disabilities. It defines technical requirements based largely on WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and is used by EU member states to support accessibility regulations for public sector services. EN 301 549 also plays a key role in the implementation of the European Accessibility Act, promoting a more inclusive digital environment across the EU.

Section 508 is a U.S. federal law that requires government agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 508 was refreshed in 2017 to align with WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards. It applies to federal websites, software, documents, and systems, as well as to contractors providing digital services to the government. The goal is to ensure equal access to digital content and technology for all users, regardless of ability.

RGAA (Référentiel Général d’Accessibilité pour les Administrations) is the French government’s official accessibility standard for public sector websites and digital services. It is based on WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines and provides detailed technical requirements and testing methods to ensure digital content is accessible to people with disabilities. RGAA helps public administrations comply with legal accessibility obligations and promotes inclusive access to information and services in France.

The BITV 2.0 (Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung) is the German regulation that establishes accessibility requirements for information technology, including websites and digital services used by public authorities. As a precedent for best practices in the private sector, it is based on EN 301 549 and oriented toward WCAG 2.1 Level AA. It ensures that websites, applications, and documents are accessible to people with disabilities in Germany. Based on DIN EN ISO 9241 and DIN EN ISO 14289 for digital documents, the BITV supports Germany’s commitment to digital inclusion and complies with European accessibility directives.

WZG (Website Accessibility Act – Gesetz zur Barrierefreiheit von Websites und mobilen Anwendungen) is Austria’s national law that mandates accessibility for public sector websites and mobile applications. It aligns with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards to ensure digital content is accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. The WZG supports Austria’s commitment to equal access and inclusive digital services, reflecting broader European accessibility initiatives.