It’s now June 2025. That means the long-anticipated European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline is no longer simply approaching. It’s practically here. And yet, millions of websites across the EU (and beyond!) still fall short of the required accessibility standards.
Whether you’re a developer, marketer, or business owner involved in the EU market, testing your website for EAA compliance is no longer optional. It’s essential. But what exactly does EAA compliance testing involve, and how do you know if your website truly meets the mark? In this handy guide, we’ll outline everything you need to know to start fixing issues fast and work on future-proofing your business.
Why European Accessibility Act Compliance is Essential
If you offer digital products or services in the European marketplace, EAA compliance is a legal requirement, even if your company is based outside the EU.
The financial penalties for noncompliance can be catastrophic, especially for small businesses. However, the benefits of EAA compliance extend far beyond avoiding fines and legal trouble. By aligning yourself with the globally accepted web accessibility best practices outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, you also unlock several additional long-term advantages:
- Make your content more usable for everyone.
- Expand your reach to the 135+ million Europeans with disabilities.
- Improve your SEO and site performance.
- Strengthen your brand’s reputation and build deeper consumer trust.
Ultimately, accessibility isn’t just a regulatory hurdle that must be overcome. It’s a smart, scalable business strategy, as investing in compliance means investing in your users, your growth, and your future.
EAA Compliance Testing Methods
There are two main approaches to EAA compliance testing: automated testing and manual testing. Each serves a different purpose:
- Automated testing uses digital tools to scan for common accessibility barriers based on globally recognised Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) criteria.
- Manual testing involves human evaluation to assess how real people, and especially those using assistive technologies, experience your site.
You should be employing a mix of both to achieve the most meaningful results. Let’s take a closer look at the strengths and limitations of each method.
Automated Accessibility Testing for EAA Compliance
If you’re not sure where or how to begin your EAA compliance journey, automated testing is a good place to start. Within just a few clicks, tools like an Accessibility Checker can uncover a wide range of technical issues that breach WCAG standards.
Automated accessibility checkers offer fast and scalable compliance assistance, helping you catch baseline issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, especially on large, complex websites. Many providers also provide accessibility consultation and remediation services, making it easier for developers and content teams to take action. However, automation only goes so far. No software tool can fully replicate human judgment or accurately measure user experience. That’s why manual testing is also crucial.
Manual Accessibility Testing for EAA Compliance
While there’s no denying that automated tools can save you a heap of time by effortlessly pinpointing accessibility gaps, only manual testing can paint an accurate picture of how your site performs for real-world users. In fact, manual testing is the only failsafe way to gain an understanding of how your website actually functions for people with disabilities.
Not only does manual accessibility testing help you uncover barriers that automated tools may miss. Human reviews are also crucial for verifying the accuracy of your automated test results and preventing false positives.
Combining Automated and Manual EAA Testing for the Best Results
As you can see, the most effective approach is to utilise a combined method to determine both what is broken (automated checks) and what is usable (manual checks). Here’s a sample workflow you can follow:
- Run an automated scan using a reliable accessibility checker.
- Fix the obvious issues.
- Manually test the user journey, focusing on critical attributes like navigation, checkout, and forms.
- Have real-world users of assistive technology run additional manual testing to identify usability barriers.
- Re-test regularly, and run additional reviews after each content update or design change.
The bottom line? Automated and manual testing are complementary, not interchangeable. Think of them as a diagnostic scan and a real-world test drive of a newly revamped vehicle. Only by combining both methods will you get a completely accurate view.
8 Common EAA Violations and How to Fix Them
While some accessibility issues can be complex, many of the most common problems involve relatively easy fixes. Here’s a list of examples:
- Missing alt text: Write an accurate alt attribute for every image that conveys information. Decorative images should be marked with empty alt tags (alt=””).
- Inadequate colour contrast: Use tools our contrast checker to ensure foreground and background colours meet minimum contrast ratios of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
- Inaccessible forms: Best practices for accessible forms include giving each field a clear label, proper focus order, and error handling. Test using screen readers to ensure correct interpretation.
- Navigation issues: Test every interactive element using only the Tab, Space, and Enter keys to determine whether your pages are operable via keyboard navigation alone.
- Heading structure problems: Use a logical heading hierarchy with only one H1 per page. Don’t skip levels (e.g., jumping from an <h2> to an <h4>) or use headings just for visual styling.
- Missing captions or transcripts: All video content should have synchronised captions. Audio-only content requires a transcript.
- Unclear hyperlink text: Link text should describe the purpose or destination of the link in context. Avoid vague phrases like “Click here.”
- Improper use of ARIA: Use native HTML elements first, and validate ARIA with testing tools (ARIA roles and labels can help with complex interactions, but misuse can create confusion).
The Importance of Continuous EAA Compliance Tests
EAA compliance is an ongoing responsibility. Continuous testing is essential because every new product release, content update, or site redesign introduces fresh noncompliance risks. Here are a few top tips to help you stay on top of compliance requirements over the long term:
- Run audits at least quarterly, and even more frequently for high-traffic or frequently updated websites.
- Integrate accessibility into your development process from the start, not just as a post-launch fix.
- Provide ongoing accessibility training for developers, designers, and content creators to keep everyone aligned.
- Use reliable tracking tools to log issues, monitor fixes, and catch regressions before they reach users.
Remember, consistency is key. So, whatever EAA compliance testing processes you adopt, the most important thing is to keep going until they become thoroughly embedded into your culture, workflows, and organisational mindset.
Taking Action on EAA Compliance
In conclusion, ensuring your website meets European Accessibility Act standards isn’t a one-time project but an ongoing commitment to inclusivity and legal compliance. By combining automated scans with thorough manual testing, addressing common violations, and building accessibility into every update, you’ll protect your business from fines while delivering a better experience to all users. Start today, and make accessibility an integral part of your web strategy for long-term success.
European Accessibility Act Compliance Testing FAQs
Here’s a quick list of our most common EAA compliance questions. However, please don’t hesitate to contact our team if you need more info or can’t find the answer you’re looking for.
Start with an automated scan using a trusted accessibility checker to get a speedy snapshot of your site’s most significant issues.
Yes. While there’s no legal mandate that stipulates the methods you use to become compliant, you should always run manual checks to identify context or usability issues that scanners may miss.
Yes. The EAA applies to a broad range of digital assets, including e-commerce websites, apps, booking platforms, ICT products, e-books and e-readers, self-service terminals, ticketing machines, check-in kiosks, PDFs, and online documents.
Specific penalties vary by jurisdiction, as each EU member state has its own set of accessibility laws. However, hefty fines and lawsuits are likely. Your business may also be excluded from public contracts, have its market access restricted, or be subjected to increased regulatory scrutiny going forward.
That doesn’t matter. If you operate in the EU market or target EU consumers, EAA compliance is mandatory regardless of your HQ location.