European Accessibility Act: Legislation, Accessibility Widgets and Compliance for Web Sites to 2025

What the European Accessibility Act envisages for websites in 2025

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) represents a decisive turning point for digital accessibility in Europe. Enacted in April 2019 as Directive (EU) 2019/882 and transposed by Italy in May 2022, this regulation will come into force on June 28, 2025, requiring companies and organizations to make their websites and digital services accessible.

The directive stems from the need to harmonize European regulations and ensure that approximately 100 million Europeans with disabilities can access digital services without barriers. For companies, this means adapting their websites to meet the accessibility requirements established by the regulation.

Comparison with international standards on digital accessibility

Before examining the available solutions, it is important to understand how the EAA fits into the international landscape of accessibility regulations:

United States: ADA and Section 508

In the United States, digital accessibility is regulated mainly by:

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Although it does not explicitly mention websites (it dates back to 1990), case law has interpreted it as including digital services as "places of public accommodation." Unlike the EAA, it does not provide specific technical guidelines.
• Section 508: Applies to federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funding. In 2017 it was updated to align with WCAG 2.0 standards.

Differences from the EAA: The American approach is more based on legal disputes and less on detailed technical specifications. The EAA offers more precise guidelines and a broader scope of application.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is one of the most important pieces of legislation protecting the rights of people with disabilities in the United States.

Canada: Accessibility Act

In 2019, Canada approved the Accessible Canada Act with the goal of creating a barrier-free Canada by 2040.

Differences from the EAA: The Canadian law takes a more gradual approach focused on the participation of people with disabilities in creating the standards.

United Kingdom: After Brexit

Post-Brexit, the UK has maintained accessibility requirements through the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Differences from the EAA: Similar in approach but with a narrower scope of application, mainly focused on the public sector.

Who must comply with the EAA and what are the deadlines

The EAA applies to all economic operators providing digital services, with a few exceptions:

• Microenterprises (fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover not exceeding EUR 2 million): fully exempt
• SMEs (fewer than 250 employees and annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million): may invoke a "disproportionate burden"

It's important to note that the directive applies to digital services placed on the market after June 28, 2025. For existing websites, accessibility will need to be ensured if they undergo substantial changes after that date.

Accessibility widgets: ready-made solutions vs. in-house development

When it comes to making a website EAA-compliant, companies essentially have two options: implementing ready-made accessibility widgets or developing custom solutions in-house.

Internal development of accessibility solutions: pros and cons

Advantages of in-house development:

• Complete customization based on the site's specific needs
• Seamless integration with the existing architecture
• Full control over features and implementation

Disadvantages of in-house development:

• Higher costs for development and maintenance
• Need for specialized web accessibility skills
• Longer implementation times (3-6 months on average)
• Risk of not covering all regulatory requirements
• Need for continuous updates as standards change

Ready-to-use accessibility widgets: the most efficient solution

Advantages of ready-to-use widgets:

• Fast implementation (generally within a few days)
• Predictable costs, significantly lower than in-house development
• Immediate compliance with WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards
• Automatic updates as regulations evolve
• No need for specialized technical skills
• Dedicated technical support

Disadvantages of ready-to-use widgets:

• Limited customization compared to in-house developed solutions
• Potential impact on site performance if not properly optimized

Comparison of leading widget solutions for web accessibility

The market offers several EAA-compliant web accessibility widget solutions. We analyze and compare the three main ones: SkynetTechnologies, iubenda Accessibility, and UserWay.

SkynetTechnologies: the leading solution for EAA-compliant web accessibility

Among the various solutions available on the market, SkynetTechnologies emerges as a leader for reliability, completeness, and ease of implementation. This is the solution we use for our own site.

Main features of the accessibility widget:

1. Full compliance with WCAG 2.1 and anticipation of EAA requirements
2. Simple installation via a single line of JavaScript code
3. Customizable interface that adapts to the site's design
4. Multilingual support with 30+ languages available, including Italian
5. Analytics dashboard to monitor the use of accessibility features
6. EAA compliance certification included in the service
7. Automatic updates as regulations evolve

Advanced widget features

The widget of offers numerous features to improve the accessibility of Web sites:

• Integrated voice assistance for blind users
• Advanced contrast mode for visually impaired users
• Text resizing options and character spacing
• Simplified keyboard navigation
• Screen reader support and assistive technologies
• Epilepsy mode to reduce animations and flashes
• Improved readability for people with dyslexia
• Pointer lock for users with motor impairments

iubenda Accessibility: an Italian solution for regulatory compliance

iubenda, mainly known for its GDPR and cookie compliance solutions, also offers a widget for website accessibility.

Key features of iubenda Accessibility:

1. Integration with other compliance solutions (cookies, privacy policy)
2. Ease of implementation via a unified dashboard
3. Legal support from digital regulation experts
4. Documentation in Italian and local customer support
5. Regular updates in line with regulatory developments

Limitations of iubenda Accessibility:

• A newer and less mature solution compared to others
• More limited features compared to dedicated solutions
• Main focus on legal compliance rather than user experience

UserWay: international widget with integrated AI

UserWay is one of the most widely used accessibility widgets internationally, with an AI-based approach.

Key features of UserWay:

1. Automatic AI fixes for accessibility issues
2. Large international customer base
3. Multilingual interface with support for over 40 languages
4. Periodic scanning of the site to detect issues
5. Built-in ADA and WCAG compliance checks

Limitations of UserWay:

• Limited support in Italian
• Higher prices for advanced features
• Less specialization in specific EU regulations

In-house development vs. ready-made solutions: practical considerations

While ready-made solutions offer immediacy and simplicity, some companies may consider in-house development of accessibility tools.

Internal development: a basic approach

The development of accessibility features can begin with simple but effective interventions. Here is an example of basic code to implement a high contrast button:

javascript

// Example function to toggle high contrast mode
function toggleHighContrast() {
 const body = document.body;
 body.classList.toggle('high-contrast');
 
 // Save the user's preference
 const isHighContrast = body.classList.contains('high-contrast');
 localStorage.setItem('highContrast', isHighContrast);
}

// Base CSS for high contrast mode
const style = document.createElement('style');
style.textContent = `
 body.high-contrast {
   background-color: black !important;
   color: white !important;
 }
 body.high-contrast a {
   color: yellow !important;
 }
 body.high-contrast button,
 body.high-contrast input {
   background-color: #333 !important;
   color: white !important;
   border: 1px solid white !important;
 }
`;
document.head.appendChild(style);

// Applying saved preferences
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
 if (localStorage.getItem('highContrast') === 'true') {
   document.body.classList.add('high-contrast');
 }
});

This is just a small example of the many features required for full compliance. In-house development requires specialized expertise in web accessibility, in-depth knowledge of WCAG, and considerable time to implement all the functionality required by the EAA.

SkynetTechnologies widget implementation: quick and easy

The process of implementing a compliance widget is generally quite simple and similar in most solutions on the market:

1. Registration on the platform
2. Configuration of accessibility options
3. Installation via a single line of JavaScript code
4. Customization of the widget's visual appearance
5. Automatic testing for compliance
6. Issuance of the accessibility certificate

The entire process takes on average less than 48 hours.

Conclusion: why choose ready-to-use widgets for the EAA

The adoption of ready-to-use accessibility widgets is the most efficient and cost-effective solution to comply with the European Accessibility Act by the June 28, 2025 deadline.

For Italian companies that need to comply with the EAA, adopting a ready-to-use accessibility widget is not only a matter of regulatory compliance, but also represents:

1. A competitive advantage in the digital market
2. An opportunity to reach new customers (20% of the population has some form of disability)
3. An improved user experience for all visitors
4. A significant saving compared to in-house development
5. Legal protection against possible disputes

Don't wait until the last moment to comply with the EAA: find out today how you can make your website accessible and compliant with European regulations in a simple, fast and cost-effective way.

FAQ on web accessibility and the European Accessibility Act

What do I risk if I don't make my site EAA compliant by June 28, 2025?

Non-compliance with the EAA can result in administrative penalties, legal liability, and reputational damage. In addition, business opportunities are lost with the 20 percent of the population that has some form of disability.

Do widgets slow down my site's loading time?

No, the widget is optimized not to affect site performance. It uses lazy loading techniques and takes up less than 100KB, with negligible impact on loading time.

Can I customize the widget's appearance to match my brand?

Yes, there are extensive customization options, including colors, positioning and visible features, allowing seamless integration with your site's visual identity.

Is the widget compatible with all CMS platforms?

Yes, the widget works with all major CMSs such as Webflow, Drupal, Shopify and custom platforms. Installation requires only the addition of one line of JavaScript code.

How can I demonstrate EAA compliance to the relevant authorities?

The major providers of these services offer a certificate of compliance and a customized accessibility statement that you can post on your site and present to authorities in case of audits.