Accessibility Is No Longer Optional
Most businesses treat website accessibility like an afterthought — something to “get around to” when there’s extra time or budget. But with new laws, that luxury is about to disappear. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) kicks in by June 28, 2025, forcing businesses in the EU to make their websites, apps, and digital services accessible to everyone, including users with disabilities.
This is a fundamental shift in how companies must build their digital presence, not just another bureaucratic requirement. If your website isn’t compliant, you risk legal trouble, fines, and losing a chunk of your audience that you should’ve been serving in the first place.
Accessibility: More Than Just Compliance
Forget the law for a second. Making your website accessible is common sense. Around 15% of the world’s population has a disability, meaning millions of potential customers are either engaging with your brand or giving up in frustration because your site isn’t built for them.
Picture this: A user with impaired vision lands on your site, tries to navigate with a screen reader, and hits a wall — no alt text on images, a chaotic layout, and broken keyboard shortcuts. Someone with motor impairments struggles with your cluttered navigation, unable to use basic keyboard controls. They won’t stick around to figure it out — they’ll leave, and you’ll never know they were a lost customer.
Now, flip the scenario. An accessible website improves the experience for everyone. Clean structure, readable text, well-labeled images, and intuitive navigation make for a better user experience across the board. And a better user experience means better engagement, longer time on site, and ultimately, higher conversions.
The European Accessibility Act: What You Need to Know
Here’s the bottom line: If you operate in the EU or serve EU customers, you’re on the hook for compliance with the EAA. The law applies to a broad range of industries, including e-commerce, banking, telecom, transport, and media. If you’re selling online or providing digital services, odds are you’ll need to make sure your site meets accessibility standards.
At its core, the EAA aligns with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A and AA, the globally recognized standard for accessible web design.
Why WCAG 2.1 Level A & AA Matter
WCAG 2.1 is structured into three levels: A, AA, and AAA — with A being the minimum, AA the recommended compliance level, and AAA reserved for the highest level of accessibility (but often impractical for all sites to achieve).
For legal compliance under most accessibility regulations (including the EAA, ADA, Section 508, and EN 301 549), you must meet Level A and AA standards. This ensures that:
- Users with visual impairments can navigate with screen readers.
- Keyboard-only users can access all content without needing a mouse.
- Color contrast is strong enough for readability.
- Forms, buttons, and interactive elements are labeled correctly for assistive technologies.
- Videos and audio content include captions or transcripts.
If your site doesn’t meet these criteria, it’s not just an inconvenience — it’s a barrier preventing people from using your services.
Automating Accessibility: The Smart Way to Get Compliant
Now, let’s be real — manually auditing and fixing accessibility issues across a website is a nightmare. It’s time-consuming, tedious, and requires a level of expertise most teams don’t have in-house.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the best tools to optimize accessibility improvements:
| Tool | Function | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Siteimprove | Scans websites, identifies accessibility violations, and suggests fixes. | Large websites with frequent content updates. |
| Pope Tech | A dashboard-based accessibility tool that integrates WAVE reports for ongoing monitoring and reporting. | Organizations needing regular accessibility tracking. |
| WAVE | Browser extension that highlights accessibility problems in real-time. | Quick checks and immediate fixes. |
| SEOJuice | AI-powered platform that ensures WCAG 2.1 compliance, automatically fixes issues, and maintains SEO benefits. | Businesses seeking continuous, automated compliance. |
How SEOJuice Ensures Continuous Compliance
SEOJuice goes beyond just detecting accessibility issues — we actively fix them and ensure your site remains compliant over time. Here’s how:
- AI-Powered Daily Scans: Our system continuously scans your site, identifying and fixing accessibility issues before they become a problem.
- Automated WCAG 2.1 Compliance: We ensure your website meets Level A and AA success criteria, aligning with ADA, Section 508, and EN 301 549 standards.
- ARIA Enhancements: Our AI automatically applies ARIA labels to interactive elements, making navigation seamless for users relying on assistive technologies.
- Semantic Internal Linking: We create logical connections between related content to improve both accessibility and SEO.
With SEOJuice, you get an automated, scalable solution that keeps your site compliant — without endless manual updates or expensive rework.
The Takeaway
The clock is ticking on accessibility compliance, and businesses that ignore it are in for a rude awakening. But beyond avoiding fines, investing in accessibility is just good business. A more inclusive website means happier users, better SEO, and a stronger brand reputation.
So, the real question isn’t “Do we have to?” but rather “Why haven’t we done this already?”
If you’re not sure where to start, let’s talk. SEOJuice can help you get compliant — without the headaches.