The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a new directive that applies to the Member States of the European Union. It aims to ensure the (in-scope) services and products are accessible for all users by ensuring the internal market of the EU is regulated to include a Design for All approach.
The EAA’s content is the response to digitisation and increased disability awareness. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have become essential for many businesses, organisations, and services. It is increasingly common to find self-service devices that use ICTs. For example, those that allow us to order food, buy public transport and event tickets at our convenience. The EEA is designed to ensure companies create and use ICTs with accessibility in mind.
ICT tools for persons with disabilities
ICTs are an essential tool for many persons with disabilities. When implemented with a Design for All approach, they can reduce the barriers experienced by persons with disabilities in their daily lives.
ICTs can help many in accessing services by incorporating options for accessibility features, such as Voice-Over software, zooming options, adjustable text size options, voice control, motion & other custom navigation options, etc.
What happens when ICT tools are not using a Design for All approach?
When new ICTs are not designed with a Design for All approach they can contribute to barriers for persons with disabilities, for example:
- When digital content and software are developed without accessibility features.
- When new hardware is developed without consideration to a broad range of users in mind.
- When the built environment surrounding the product is not accessibly designed.
- When new ICTs are developed but unaffordable and so are inaccessible.
Inaccessible ICTs
Inaccessible ICTs impact the businesses that rely on them to facilitate their services. For example, if a business utilises self-service ticketing machines, interactive screens or new hardware to provide a service, without accessibility features they exclude customers who are unable to use their services because of inaccessibly designed ICTs.
The EAA will be critical to increase the availability of accessible products and services in the EU’s internal market, and to improve the accessibility of relevant information for all.
These accessible products in the scope of the EAA include computers and operating systems, ATMs, ticketing and check-in machines, telephones and smartphones, TV equipment related to digital television services, telephone services and related equipment, audio medial visual services, services related to passenger transport, banking services, e-books, e-commerce, etc. (Please refer to the EAA’s Article 2 for the complete list and full descriptions of the in-scope products and services).
In-scope products post 28th June 2025
The EAA applies to the in-scope products and services placed in the market or offered to the public after the 28th of June 2025 and it does not apply to products or services placed in the market before the 28th of June of 2025. However, if you are an organisation that actively uses any of the in-scope products in the provision of your services, the transitional measures are described in the Article 32.
In Ireland, the EAA is already transposed to the Irish regulation through the Statutory Instrument No. 636 of 2023 “European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023,” making it crucial for those who utilise these products to assess their current level of accessibility, and how to improve it.
Sources
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Statutory Instruments. S.I. No. 636 of 2023. European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023. (2023). Web Source: S.I. No. 636/2023 – European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023 (irishstatutebook.ie)
European Commission. The European Accessibility Act. (2019) Web source: Directive – 2019/882 – EN – EUR-Lex (europa.eu)
European Commission. European Accessibility Act “Improving the Accessibility of Products and Services. (2015) Web source: https://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=14869&langId=en