What most teams misunderstand about the European Accessibility Act

"Most digital teams feel pretty confident when the topic of accessibility comes up. Someone added alt text to a hero image. Someone else installed a contrast checker plugin. The design system even has a section called "accessibility guidelines," so it feels like everything is under control. But whenever I ask teams what they actually know about the European Accessibility Act (EAA), the conversation usually stalls."

""Isn't it just another WCAG checklist?" That's where the misunderstanding begins. The EAA isn't a design guideline. It's a legal milestone. It moves accessibility from something you "try to get right" to something you are required to get right. And it raises the bar in ways that many companies aren't prepared for. Some teams will treat it like a compliance headache. Others will see it for what it really is: a chance to build better, more human digital products."

"A warm, minimalist illustration representing the European Accessibility Act (EAA), highlighting physical, visual, and cognitive accessibility needs across digital products. Image created with AI. Most digital teams feel pretty confident when the topic of accessibility comes up. Someone added alt text to a hero image. Someone else installed a contrast checker plugin. The design system even has a section called "accessibility guidelines," so it feels like everything is under control."

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a legal milestone that mandates accessibility across digital products and entire user journeys. The EAA is not a design guideline or a simple WCAG checklist. It converts accessibility from an optional best practice into a legal requirement, raising expectations and enforcement. Many teams mistake compliance for superficial tasks like adding alt text, installing contrast checkers, or including guideline sections in design systems. Such limited approaches leave companies unprepared. Organizations can respond by treating the EAA as a regulatory burden or by embracing it as an opportunity to build more inclusive, human-centered digital experiences.

Read at Medium