Have you ever tried to use a website that was confusing, or a machine that was impossible to figure out? Sometimes, this is just poor design. But for people with disabilities, these barriers can prevent them from accessing essential services. On June 28, 2025, a new law called the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will take effect. It requires many products and services to be accessible for everyone. Today, we'll explore what this means and how it might affect the world around us.
Mini-Brief: The European Accessibility Act (8 mins)
The EAA is a set of rules designed to make sure that people with disabilities can use everyday products and services, just like everyone else. Think of it as a set of standards that companies must follow. The goal is "access by default," meaning things should be designed to be usable by the widest possible range of people from the start.
The European Accessibility Act
An overview of the EAA and who it helps. (Source: YouTube - ETSI - The European Telecommunications Standards Institute)
Video Transcript
Accessibility is a key to other fundamental rights, such as entry to the workplace, education, public services, or leisure. People with disabilities should be able to access all of the above on an equal basis. There are currently a hundred and twenty million Europeans with some form of disability. That figure is partly due to the rising number of elderly in the overall population. [ 00:25 ]
EU Member States used to only have their own divergent legislation, but now the European Accessibility Act, an EU directive, aims to improve the functioning of the internal market for accessible products and services while removing barriers created by different national rules. The Act covers smartphones, tablets, and computers, ticketing machines, televisions and TV programs, banking, e-books, online shopping websites, and mobile apps. Member States have until 2022 to implement the directive so it becomes part of their respective national legislation. [ 01:02 ]
This law doesn't just help people with permanent disabilities, like blindness or deafness. It also benefits people with temporary limitations (like a broken arm) or situational challenges (like using a phone in bright sunlight). Better accessibility often means better usability for everyone.
So, what does the EAA cover? Here are some key categories:
- Technology: Computers, smartphones, and operating systems.
- Services: E-commerce websites, banking services (ATMs), e-books, and apps for transportation tickets.
- Communication: Emergency numbers and audiovisual media services (like streaming platforms).
For example, a banking app must be designed so that a person using a screen reader can navigate it. An e-commerce website must have clear descriptions for images so that someone who cannot see them still knows what is for sale.
Grammar Focus: Requirements & Purpose
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