Digital accessibility was already mandatory for government websites. But from 28 June 2025, this will change: the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into effect. From that date, other businesses and organizations must also make their digital services accessible to everyone. No longer optional – it's a legal obligation.
For organizations with an online presence, this is the time to take action. In this blog, we clearly explain the new rules and show how Paddle.be can support you.
Who does the EAA apply to?
The European Accessibility Act is an EU directive that ensures digital products and services are accessible to people with disabilities — such as blind and visually impaired people, deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, and people with motor or cognitive disabilities.
Where previous regulations mainly applied to government websites, the EAA broadens this to include services like:
- Electronic communications (websites, apps, platforms, e-counters, digital brochures)
- E-commerce (such as ticket sales, appointment platforms)
- E-books and information platforms
- Public information and services
- Audiovisual material (e.g. videos and livestreams)
The goal is clear: digital exclusion must become a thing of the past.
What are the accessibility standards?
The EAA is based on the international WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines (and later WCAG 2.2) and the European standard EN 301 549. These outline the technical and functional requirements your digital products and services must meet.
what do I need to change?
As a city, municipality, care institution, or non-profit, you likely offer digital access to important services: looking up information, booking appointments, retrieving documents, checking care information, or reserving events. All those touchpoints must be fully accessible by June 2025.
This means, among other things:
- Your website must be usable with a screen reader
- All informative images must have meaningful alt text
- Videos must have subtitles or audio descriptions
- Interactive forms must work without a mouse
- Content must be logical and understandable, even for people with cognitive challenges
- Accessible PDFs
- Proper color contrast
How can Paddle.be help your organization?
The Paddle CMS platform was developed in consultation with Anysurfer and supports you from the start in creating accessible websites.
In addition, Paddle.be offers various tools to improve accessibility, along with tailored guidance – especially for organizations like yours.
The AI alt-tag
This smart tool automatically generates descriptive alternative texts for images. This helps you meet one of the most important EAA requirements while improving the user experience – even for users with slow internet or who disable images.
Other useful tools and services:
- Accessible web forms – Fully compatible with keyboards and screen readers, ensuring everyone can complete them easily.
- Autofill for forms – Proper autocomplete attributes let browsers prefill form data, reducing user effort, especially for people with disabilities.
- Contrast switcher for optimal readability – One click enables high-contrast mode, improving legibility, especially for visually impaired users.
- Smart in-page navigation – Long pages? No problem. A dynamic navigation bar helps visitors quickly jump to sections without scrolling.
- Interactive table of contents – Add clear, responsive page outlines so users can find what they need faster.
- Built-in accessibility checker – Integrate quick access to popular accessibility tools directly into your backend to check compliance instantly.
- Adjustable font size (AAA standards) – Let visitors control font size for better readability, even under strict accessibility guidelines.
Whether you’re a municipality with a broad portal or a small non-profit: there’s always a tailored solution.
- Also read: How to test if your website is accessible
- Discover: How to create an accessible PDF
- Check out: Our digital accessibility checklist (95.3 KB) "pdf"
Custom accessibility scan
Want to know how accessible your website really is? Paddle.be, together with Anysurfer, offers thorough accessibility scans based on WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549.
After the scan, you receive a clear report with:
- Concrete advice and areas for improvement
- Prioritization based on severity and impact
- A foundation to discuss feasible technical changes with Paddle
See how Zutendaal earned the Anysurfer accessibility label thanks to Paddle.be
Monitoring and enforcement
n Belgium, the EAA will be integrated into existing legislation, with monitoring by various authorities depending on the domain (e.g. FPS Economy, FPS Mobility, FPS Health, etc.).
Failing to comply with the EAA can result in penalties or fines. But more importantly, it undermines the trust of citizens, patients, or clients who rely on your services.
Why digital accessibility pays off
- You exclude no one – everyone can access your info and services
- You boost trust in your organization
- You meet legal requirements before the deadline
- You improve usability and customer satisfaction
- You show social responsibility and leadership
June 28, 2025 is approaching fast. Start today and build a digital environment that truly works for everyone.