Digital accessibility is an increasingly central issue in the world of the web, both to ensure an inclusive experience for users with disabilities and to comply with current regulations. Having a website that is not accessible to people with disabilities is like having a shop with steps at the entrance and no wheelchair ramp: it limits access to potential customers and can be sanctioned. But, above all, it denotes a lack of ethics and sensitivity.
By means of legislation, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), a European Union directive, sets out precise rules to improve the accessibility of digital products and services, including websites. Companies and organizations must comply with these standards by June 28, 2025, under the risk of penalties and restrictions.
In this article, we will explore the fundamental principles of digital accessibility, the requirements of EU legislation and best practices for making a website compliant.
What EU legislation on digital accessibility provides
The European Accessibility Act (EAA), formalized as Directive (EU) 2019/882, aims to eliminate digital barriers and ensure access to online services for people with disabilities. The standard states that websites and mobile applications must comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria.
Italy has transposed this Directive with the Legislative Decree no. 82 of 27 May 2022 (read the legislation), requiring all digital products and services to comply with accessibility standards as of June 28, 2025.
Who must comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
The compliance obligation concerns:
- Public sector (government agencies, schools, hospitals, universities).
- Private companies with more than 250 employees or annual turnover above 50 million euros.
- E-commerce, banking, financial services and insurance.
- Transportation and travel, including online booking websites.
- Digital publishing, eBook platforms and media.
- Electronic communications services, such as telephony and Internet providers.
SMEs are not obliged to comply, unless they operate in critical sectors such as healthcare or transportation.
What those who do not comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) risk
Companies and organizations that do not comply with the guidelines may incur economic sanctions, established by the supervisory authorities of each individual EU country (AgID in Italy), and exclusion from public procurement. It is also worth considering any damage to the reputation and loss of users with disabilities, as well as negative effects on the organic positioning of websites on search engines,
Guidelines for making your website accessible
Digital accessibility is based on four fundamental principles, defined by WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines):
- Perceivable – The content and components of the user interface must be usable by everyone, even by users with visual or hearing impairments. This includes alt text for images, subtitles for videos, and enough contrast between text and background.
- Usable – The interface and navigation should be simple and accessible, allowing the keyboard to be used to navigate without depending on the mouse.
- Comprehensible – The information and operation of the user interface must be understandable. The contents must therefore be clear and readable, avoiding technicalities and offering intuitive instructions.
- Robust – Your website should be able to be interpreted reliably by a wide range of user agents, including assistive technologies such as screen readers and other support tools.
We have to imagine different types of difficulties in using online content. For example, we can have visually impaired or completely blind users, but also colorblind users who have difficulty distinguishing colors. By increasing the contrast, we could help the latter, but put those suffering from epileptic seizures in difficulty. In addition to visual impairments, physical and cognitive disabilities can also make it more difficult to use online content and interact with platforms.
The guidelines defined by WCAG 2.1 precisely outline all the requirements for digital accessibility.
Websites should have a logical structure, with well-organized menus and a clear hierarchical order of pages.
Screen reader compatibility
Ensure that content is readable by screen readers, using semantic HTML and alt attributes for images.
Alternative texts for multimedia content
If images must have text descriptions (alt attribute), videos must offer subtitles and transcripts.
Appropriate color and contrast
The minimum contrast ratio between text and background should be 4.5:1 to ensure readability.
All content and functions of the website must be accessible via keyboard, without requiring the use of a mouse.
Accessible forms and fields
Form fields should be labeled correctly and provide clear feedback on errors.
Easy to read and understand content
Avoid complex technical language and offer simple explanations. Content must be understandable to users with a lower secondary level of education.
Avoid content that causes seizures
Avoid animations and flashing lights with a frequency greater than 3 flashes per second. Otherwise, they could put epilepsy sufferers in difficulty.
Provide alternatives to voice commands
If a service requires voice input, a text or keyboard alternative must be available so that everyone can use it.
Enough time to read the contents
Avoid automatic timeouts without extension options, especially in forms and payments. This also makes it easier to complete a conversion action.
Logical page structure
Use titles and headings (h1, h2, h3) to facilitate navigation and to hierarchically organize the contents of the page.
Provide descriptions for links
Avoid generic links such as “Click here”, but use descriptive texts such as “Download the accessibility guide”.
Make sure your content is responsive
The website should adapt to different screen sizes and mobile devices, without covering content or layout elements.
How digital accessibility affects SEO
Digital accessibility not only improves user experience, but also has a significant impact on SEO. Google and other search engines reward accessible websites because they offer a better experience to users. The way has been shown by the latest algorithm updates and Google Core Web Vitals, that include many parameters related to digital accessibility.
Many aspects, such as using the alt attribute or organizing content hierarchically through titles and headings, have been included in SEO best practices for several years, so for most well-maintained websites there shouldn’t be any major problems. The same goes for compatibility with different devices: Googlebot introduced the mobile-first index as early as 2019.
Why comply with EU legislation on digital accessibility
Complying with digital accessibility regulations is not only a legal obligation, but also an ethical responsibility and an opportunity to improve user experience and visibility in search engines. Respect for users is demonstrated by these concrete gestures, rather than by a thousand words and promises empty of meaning.
