Preparing for the European Accessibility Act (EAA)

Building Inclusive Digital Experiences

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), set to take effect on 28 June 2025, establishes accessibility requirements for a broad range of digital products and services across the European Union. It aims to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities, ensuring equal access to digital services and fostering inclusivity.

The EAA applies to consumer-facing digital solutions, such as websites, mobile applications, e-commerce platforms, and online banking systems. It also extends to public-facing services like ticketing machines, ATMs, and self-service kiosks. Businesses that fail to comply risk penalties, reputational damage, and limited market access within the EU.

Meeting these requirements involves integrating accessibility into every stage of design, development, and maintenance. Preparing now ensures compliance and opens the door to more inclusive user experiences. This guide outlines practical steps and tools to help you build accessible applications and verify their compliance.

1 - How accessibility features in OutSystems can help

Accessibility begins with the right tools to support compliant development. OutSystems offers features that can help your team address accessibility requirements efficiently:

The platform includes pre-built, accessibility-ready UI patterns and widgets designed to align with recognized standards like WCAG 2.1 AA.
Developers can adjust UI elements, color contrasts, and ARIA roles to suit specific accessibility needs.
Integration with widely-used accessibility testing tools, such as WAVE and Lighthouse, makes it easier to identify and resolve issues during development.

These tools provide a strong foundation for building accessible applications, but creating truly inclusive solutions also requires adopting best practices across your design and development workflows.

2 - Key steps for implementing accessible applications

OutSystems’ accessibility tools provide a strong foundation, but building compliant applications also requires integrating best practices into your workflow. Here’s how to create apps that comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) while delivering a better experience for everyone.

Design with accessibility in mind

The foundation of accessibility lies in thoughtful, user-focused design. This stage ensures the app is intuitive and usable for everyone, including people with disabilities.

Apply WCAG 2.1 guidelines for color contrast, text scaling, and clear layouts.
Use meaningful labels for all interactive elements to ensure clarity for users with assistive devices.
Plan navigation that is predictable and intuitive to reduce cognitive load.

Build with accessibility in focus

Development is where designs are translated into functional, accessible code. This is where accessibility standards are implemented in code, ensuring all users can interact with your app seamlessly.

Use pre-built patterns that support accessibility standards.
Add ARIA labels to enhance compatibility with screen readers.
Optimize for keyboard navigation, ensuring all interactions, such as opening dropdowns or navigating modals, are keyboard-accessible.

Test accessibility early and often

Accessibility issues are the easiest and cheapest to fix when caught early.

Testing ensures your app meets compliance standards before launch.

Use automated tools like Lighthouse or Axe to catch common issues.
Conduct manual tests, such as navigating with a keyboard or using screen readers, to uncover nuances missed by automation.
Include users with disabilities in your testing process to validate real-world usability.

Iterate and improve continuously

Accessibility doesn’t end at launch. Ongoing maintenance and updates are crucial for staying compliant and ensuring a positive user experience.

Schedule regular audits to ensure compliance as applications evolve.
Gather feedback from users with disabilities to identify areas for improvement.

3 - Take action to ensure accessibility compliance

Even with the right tools and a well-designed application, accessibility cannot be guaranteed without thorough testing and audits. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires businesses to not only build accessible applications but also to verify that those applications meet compliance standards. Regular testing ensures your app works for all users, including those relying on assistive technologies.

Why auditing is essential

Accessibility compliance goes beyond ticking checkboxes—it’s about ensuring that real users can navigate and interact with your app. Automated tools and audits help uncover issues that may have been missed during development, such as:

Missing or incorrect ARIA labels.
Insufficient color contrast.
Keyboard navigation issues.
Elements not compatible with screen readers.

The European Accessibility Act is fast approaching—don’t wait to make your applications accessible to all users. Whether you’re starting from scratch or enhancing existing solutions, now is the time to prepare.

Here are resources to help you get ready:

Equip your team with the tools and knowledge to create applications that are not only compliant but inclusive for everyone. As you navigate this journey, OutSystems Professional Services is here to support you every step of the way.

Reach out to your Customer Success Manager or Technical Success Manager to explore how we can help ensure your application meets accessibility standards and delivers exceptional user experiences.