Here's how to get started with the European Accessibility Act (EAA)

In short, the EAA requires companies to ensure that their services and products are and remain accessible. So you have to modify what you have now and set up processes for what will come later. Not sure yet if you are covered by the EAA? Read all about this accessibility law in our earlier blog.

Making your online platform accessible to the EAA

So how do you make your services accessible? You do that by making them compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, specifically WCAG 2.1 AA. That means your content must meet these four principles:

• Perceivable: everyone must be able to perceive all content on your website or app.
• Operable: anyone must be able to operate your website or app.
• Understandable: everyone must be able to understand the information and operation of your website or app
• Robust: everyone should be able to use your website or app even as technologies evolve.

To determine if your digital environment meets these requirements, have an accessibility audit done. Such an audit is often the first step toward accessibility. It shows exactly which elements are already accessible and what you still need to adjust.

Offer your products and services in an accessible way

Not only should your website be accessible, you should also share information about the accessibility of your offerings. After all, consumers need to know how accessible your products or services are. Customer service should also provide that info in a way that is accessible to everyone. Various regulators, such as the AFM and ACM are going to monitor this.

According to the AFM, if you offer an online service, you have to share this info:

• How the service works,
• How the service works together with related products,
• In what way the service is accessible,
• With which assistive devices the service can be operated.

Of course, you offer this information in an accessible way:

• In at least two ways (senses),
• Available in text format (e.g., HTML),
• Perceivable to all users, for example, by providing a movie with subtitles and audio descriptors,
• With an alternative to information that can only be seen or listened to (such as images and graphs),
• Presented in an understandable way,
• Presented with sufficient contrast and a font in appropriate size,
• With customizable letter, line and paragraph spacing.

Roadmap as a guide to accessibility

In large organizations, accessibility usually goes beyond just a website; think apps, intranets, online documents and more. It's important to take stock of this, because you need to make all that information and processes accessible to your customers. That's a long process. Think of it as a marathon rather than a sprint. That's why we recommend creating a roadmap.

Together with you, our consultants determine a plan of action to make everything accessible. For example, we look at what needs to be made accessible, what has priority and how this can be done efficiently. Remember that this is a major organizational issue. So you need to involve many stakeholders.

Being and staying accessible

Accessibility is never 'finished'. After all, your website and other digital communication tools are constantly changing. That is why the EAA requires organizations to set up a process to ensure accessibility. So that new content is accessible and accessibility problems are solved.
How do you go about that? The solution here is customization. In any case, make sure:

• Knowledge among employees. Employees need to know why accessibility is important and how to incorporate it into their work.
• An accessible foundation: an accessible house style and templates for documents make a lot of difference.
• The right tools: for example, if you want to create accessible PDFs yourself, you need specific software.

Your accessibility statement is where it all comes together

You are required to include an accessibility statement on your website or app. In it you show how your products and services comply with accessibility rules. This statement must be easy for consumers to find and access. In the accessibility statement, you describe your service and how it works (with aids). You also show how your service meets the accessibility requirements and how you make sure it stays that way. Of course, we will help you prepare the statement.

The accessibility study report is one of the means to show where you stand with accessibility. This report is valid for 3 years. So make sure you schedule a new survey in time so that your accessibility statement remains valid.

Want to get started with the EAA? As a full-service accessibility agency, we have all the expertise. From accessibility research to customized training and consulting. Get in touch so you can soon be EAA proof too!