Inclusive design starts here
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is now part of Irish law, taking effect in June 2025.
We provide accessibility audits, inclusive design and expert development to help you become compliant in 4 easy steps.
What is
Web Accessibility?
Web accessibility ensures that websites, apps, and digital content are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. By removing barriers, accessibility empowers individuals with diverse abilities to understand and interact with the digital world.
This inclusive approach addresses a wide range of disabilities, such as visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological impairments so that no one is left behind.
Accessibility standards are guided by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines help create digital experiences that are inclusive and accessible to all.
Web Accessibility (WCAG) Principles
WCAG, the international standard for web accessibility, is founded on four essential principles.
Perceivable
Information and interface elements must be presented in ways that all users can perceive, regardless of their abilities.
Operable
Users should be able to navigate and interact with the interface through various input methods, including keyboard-only navigation.
Understandable
Content needs to be clear, predictable, and provide helpful guidance where necessary to support user comprehension.
Robust
Content should work reliably across a range of devices and technologies, including assistive tools such as screen readers.
What makes a
Website Accessible?
Accessible web design considers the needs of all users, including:
- Clear and organised navigation
- Descriptive alternative text for images
- Compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers
- Readable content, including font size and colour contrast
- Ongoing monitoring to maintain accessibility
By prioritising user accessibility, your website becomes an inclusive platform that fosters engagement and trust.
Why companies need to make
their Websites Accessible
Accessibility is more than a legal requirement – it’s an essential step towards inclusivity and market growth.
Designing accessible websites enhances the user experience for everyone, not just those with disabilities. This allows businesses to reach a broader audience, including millions of people with disabilities worldwide, while creating smoother and intuitive experiences that foster loyalty and drive innovation.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) mandates that a broad range of digital products and services, including websites and mobile apps, must be accessible to people with disabilities. This regulation applies to public-sector organisations and private companies across the European Union (EU).
The EAA aims to establish a consistent standard for accessibility across EU member states, ensuring equal access to products and services for individuals with disabilities.
Key Compliance
Requirements
Deadline for compliance: 28 June 2025
Standards: Adherence to WCAG 2.1 (Level AA) to ensure digital content is accessible for all users
Monitoring and Reporting: Regular accessibility checks and reporting to maintain compliance and uphold standards
Accessibility Statements: Public statements confirming compliance, with contact details for accessibility support
Prioritising accessibility protects your business, broadens your reach, and builds lasting trust
Accessibility
From risk mitigation
to competitive advantage
Failure to comply with WCAG 2.1 Accessibility Standards can result in legal penalties and reputational damage.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s at stake:
Risks
- Legal Penalties
The European Accessibility Act enforces penalties for non-compliance, including fines and imprisonment. Penalties include: On summary conviction, a Class A fine of up to €5,000, imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both. On conviction on indictment, a fine of up to €60,000, imprisonment for up to 18 months, or both. Liability extends to company directors, managers, secretaries, and other officers. - Reputational Damage
Failing to meet accessibility standards can harm a company’s image, leading to negative public perception and a loss of consumer trust.
Benefits
Ensuring digital accessibility protects your company’s reputation and expands your audience, opening your brand to everyone. Key benefits include:
- Broader Audience Reach
Accessible design opens services to a wider audience, including the elderly and those with disabilities. - Improved SEO and Digital Performance
Accessible websites tend to perform better in search engines, attracting more organic traffic. - Enhance Users experience
Accessibility enhances the overall user experience by simplifying navigation and making all content easily accessible to everyone. - Competitive Advantage
Accessibility signals social responsibility, setting compliant businesses apart as leaders in inclusivity.
Solution
How to make your
website accessible
Step 1
Start with an Accessibility Audit
Our Accessibility Audit is a thorough assessment of your website, that measures how well your website meets WCAG 2.1 (Level AA) accessibility standards. Here, we identify barriers that may prevent users with disabilities from engaging with your website and provide actionable recommendations to achieve compliance.
Step 2
Redesign for Inclusivity and Compliance
Using insights from our audit, we reimagine your website’s design to ensure it’s accessible to everyone. This includes improving navigation, enhancing color contrast, adding alternative text for images, and ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers.
Step 3
Accessible Development
In this phase, our developers implement changes to your website’s structure and functionality to ensure compliance with European Accessibility Act and WCAG standards. Here we update the code and deploy the updated, compliant website with a focus on high performance, giving you a seamless, accessible solution that’s ready to meet your users’ needs.
Step 4
Continuous Improvement
Accessibility doesn’t end at deployment. We set up regular monitoring and review analytics to ensure your website remains inclusive and compliant as standards evolve so that your website continues to meet user needs and compliance requirements over time.
About
Accessibility
Accessibility.ie is an initiative by TotalDigital.ie, an award winning design and development agency based in Dublin. With over 20 years of experience, we partner with leading brands across sectors to create accessible, inclusive digital solutions that deliver results.
Our team of accessibility design and development experts will guide you towards full compliance with the European Accessibility Act (EAA), ensuring your website is welcoming to all users.
