Digital Accessibility in the EU - new laws, new mindset

Is your software truly accessible? The EU’s Accessibility Revolution is here

Imagine launching your latest digital product and realizing that, not because of bugs or performance, but due to accessibility, it can’t legally reach millions of European users. Scenarios like this aren’t hypothetical anymore. Over the past year, a wave of new digital accessibility laws has swept the European Union, fundamentally changing what it means for software and online services to be “open to all.”

For educators, SaaS founders, and digital leaders, the stakes have never been higher. If you thought accessibility was just a checkbox or a matter for public sector projects, the new EU laws will change your mind, and possibly your business model.

The era of digital inclusion has begun

Why is this such a big deal right now?

Digital accessibility once lived in the backwater of web compliance: relevant for government sites or forward-thinking nonprofits, but rarely driving product strategy. But that’s changed, thanks largely to the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and the expansion of the EU Web Accessibility Directive. As accessibility.com notes, the EAA extends robust requirements to a broad swath of private sector products and services, from banking apps to e-books, e-commerce, and EdTech platforms.

By June 2025, virtually every B2C software, online platform, or digital product sold in or into the EU will fall under these rules.

“If your business serves EU clients, you can no longer treat accessibility as an afterthought or something for phase two.” – Adapted from ZDNet

As digital transformation accelerates, a realization is dawning: accessibility is the foundation, not the fringe, of good digital products.

Core insights & strategies for the Age of EU Accessibility

1. Most businesses are now in scope, no more exceptions

Gone are the days when accessibility laws applied broadly only to government and certain public sector bodies. The EAA targets almost all products and services that are sold on the EU market, whether you’re in Finland or Florida. That means:

• SaaS and B2C platforms: Any service for the public, including banking apps, e-learning, media streaming, and e-commerce.

  
  

• Hardware interfaces and connected devices (think smart home ecosystems, e-readers, POS devices, even product packaging and included instructions of these products).

Why it matters: If you produce or license digital goods (including EdTech and software used in schools, universities, and enterprises), accessibility compliance is no longer optional. As summarized by Accessibility.com, non-compliance can mean fines, market bans, and contract ineligibility.

2. “Accessibility” means more than screen readers, and it’s continuous

The new EU legal standard moves beyond technical checks and focuses on real usability for all. This includes:

• Navigability without a mouse

• Text alternatives for all non-text content

• Colors/ contrast, scalable layouts, and video captions

• Adaptability for assistive hardware/software

• Consistent updates to maintain accessibility as your software evolves

Checklists won’t get you all the way there. The entire development process, from UX research to QA, support, and ongoing content updates, needs to embrace accessibility as a product value, not a compliance obligation.

3. The business case is now legal and financial

So why should commercial teams, product managers, and educational software vendors really care?

• Enforcement is credible: Penalties for non-compliance can include market bans and civil fines, and the enforcement bodies are being equipped to take action.

  
  

• Procurement is changing: Many large organizations and public buyers now require proof of accessibility compliance just to consider your bid.

• It’s a competitive opportunity: Accessible tools open your service to millions of users otherwise left out, including those with disabilities, aging populations, and people using alternative interfaces or outdated devices.

  
  

For EdTech? This is a game-changer. As universities and schools receive national funding (and face their own accessibility mandates), buying or recommending compliant platforms is a must. Expect accessibility documentation to become a required line item in almost all partnerships and B2B deals.

4. The road to compliance isn’t just technical - it’s strategic

Meeting EU accessibility requirements starts with standards like WCAG 2.1 AA, but doesn’t end there. The smartest organizations are responding in three key ways:

• Accessibility Audits: Not just at launch, but as a regular part of the DevOps lifecycle.

  
  

• Cultivating an Accessibility Mindset: Training designers, developers, and content creators in accessibility functionality and building it into budgets from day one.

  
  

• Accessibility as a Feature, Not a Fix: Treat compliance gaps as customer support risks, not just technical issues. For SaaS and EdTech, accessible onboarding flows, support chats, and error messages matter as much as accessible main interfaces.

  
  

For organizations outside Europe, this is also relevant. As Lexology notes, even non-EU vendors must meet these standards when selling into Europe, a dynamic already shaping procurement in North America and Asia-Pacific.

5. The timeline is tight, and so are resource markets

Many EU members are finalizing national implementations, but the 2030 deadline applies across the bloc. Think upgrading your web platform is a "next year" project? Accessibility experts, designers, and auditors are already booked up.

Tech teams should invest in:

• Automated testing tools

• User testing with real users who rely on assistive technology

• Building vendor relationships: Accessibility is becoming a specialty in legal, design, and development consulting

Don’t wait for a letter from a regulator or angry customer. By then, you’ll be behind.

So, what to do now about Accessibility?

The EU’s digital accessibility transformation is more than a law; it’s a cultural inflection point. Businesses that adapt quickly will not only meet legal requirements but also reach new audiences, reduce support costs, and unlock innovation. Those who ignore it? Risk shrinking their market and reputation as fast as the rules roll in.

What can we do to meet Accessibility requirements?

• As EdTech founders: Accessibility is now as fundamental as security or privacy for institutional deals. Non-compliance may cost you contracts and credibility.

  
  

• As Dev teams: Treat accessibility bugs like production blockers, not nice-to-haves. Set up dashboards, alerts, and performance targets. Build checklists into your code review process.

  
  

• As business leaders and product owners: Recognize accessibility as a business growth driver, not a constraint. Compliant products “travel” better across markets, both within and beyond the EU.

For more on how these product shifts mirror growth in EdTech and SaaS, see our related articles: – AI tools for education and their usage – Mastering the Art of User Experience Design – Insights from a Leading Software Development Blog.