Insights
Accessibility Insights
Plain-English explainers and updates on web accessibility — WCAG, the European Accessibility Act and the ADA — written for the people who have to comply. New entries land here as the standards and the law move.
ARIA Labels Done Right: The First Rule, Accessible Names, and the Mistakes Behind 2026's Regression
ARIA code is up 27% in a year, yet WCAG failures just reversed six years of progress. Here's what front-end teams get wrong about ARIA labels, accessible names, and when not to reach for ARIA at all.
Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACR/VPAT): The EU Procurement Guide for Vendors and Buyers
What a VPAT is, how it becomes an ACR, which edition to use for EU procurement under EN 301 549, and how to write one that survives scrutiny - plus a buyer-side checklist.
Web Accessibility Directive vs European Accessibility Act: Two EU Laws, One Compliance Programme
The EU has two distinct digital-accessibility regimes: the WAD for public sector bodies and the EAA for private-sector products and services. Many organisations are subject to both. Here's how to tell them apart - and how to satisfy both at once.
Cognitive Accessibility and the EAA: Why WCAG Compliance Isn't Enough
WCAG 2.1 AA is the EAA's legal floor - but it only partially covers people with cognitive and learning disabilities. Here's what teams must do beyond the standard.
Accessible Forms: The Developer's Fix-First Guide to WCAG 2.2 Compliance
Forms are where accessibility fails most and where the EAA bites hardest. A technique-level guide to labels, errors, grouping, autocomplete, redundant entry, focus, and keyboard - with code examples.
EAA Disproportionate Burden: Why Article 14 Is Not the Easy Exit You Think It Is
Article 14 of the EAA is not a blanket opt-out. Learn exactly how the disproportionate burden and fundamental alteration exemptions work, what Annex VI demands, and why weak claims invite enforcement.
Emergency Communications Accessibility Under the EAA: RTT, Total Conversation, and the 112 Duty Explained
The EAA names emergency communications as an explicitly in-scope service with hard deadlines in 2025 and 2027. Here's what RTT, total conversation, and the 112 equivalence duty actually require.
AI and Accessibility: Useful Accelerator, Not a Compliance Shortcut
AI can speed up accessibility work - but it cannot deliver EAA compliance on its own. Here's where it genuinely helps, where it fails, and what the law still requires from humans.
WCAG 2.2 SC 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication: What It Means and How to Pass It
SC 3.3.8 bans cognitive function tests in login flows unless an accessible alternative exists. Here's exactly what that means, what fails, and how to fix it.
EAA Enforcement: What Has Actually Happened in Year One (July 2026 Review)
One year after the EAA deadline, enforcement is no longer theoretical. France has a landmark court ruling, Sweden is running proactive inspections, and the Netherlands is escalating. Here's what actually happened.
How to Run a Website Accessibility Audit: A Step-by-Step WCAG-EM Guide
Learn how to run a credible website accessibility audit using the W3C WCAG-EM methodology - combining automated tools, manual expert review, and assistive-technology testing to meet WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA and the EAA.
EAA vs ADA: A Side-by-Side Comparison for Companies Selling into Both Markets
The EAA and ADA share the same goal but differ in philosophy, scope, and enforcement. Here's how they compare - and why one WCAG 2.1 AA programme largely covers both.
EAA Video Accessibility: What Captions, Audio Description, and Accessible Players Actually Require
The European Accessibility Act has applied since 28 June 2025. Here is exactly what it requires for captions, audio description, and accessible media players - and whether your video is in scope.
Self-Service Terminal Accessibility Under the EAA: What Banks, Retailers, and Transport Operators Must Do Now
The EAA covers ATMs, ticketing machines, and payment terminals - not just websites. Here's what the hardware rules actually require, how the 20-year transition works, and what EN 301 549 demands from new terminals.
Ebook Accessibility and the EAA: What Publishers, Retailers, and Self-Publishing Authors Must Do Now
The EAA has applied since 28 June 2025 and explicitly names e-books, e-readers, and DRM software in scope. Here is what publishers and retailers must do to comply.
EN 301 549: The ICT Accessibility Standard You Actually Test Against
EN 301 549 is the harmonised technical standard that operationalises EAA legal obligations. Here's what it covers, how it differs from WCAG, and what the 2026 v4.1.1 revision means for your compliance programme.
Online Banking Accessibility Under the EAA: What Banks and Fintechs Must Do Now
Consumer banking is explicitly named in the EAA, in force since June 2025. Here's what's in scope across the full customer journey, where banks most often fail, and what to fix first.
Mobile App Accessibility Under the EAA: A POUR Checklist for iOS and Android Teams
The EAA has applied to mobile apps since June 2025. Here is a practical, platform-specific POUR checklist for iOS and Android teams shipping banking, e-commerce, transport, and telecoms apps into the EU.
E-Commerce and the EAA: A Journey-by-Journey WCAG 2.1 AA Checklist
The EAA names e-commerce explicitly. If you sell to EU consumers - wherever you're based - you must meet WCAG 2.1 AA. Here's a practical, journey-by-journey checklist to fix what matters most.
PDF Accessibility and the EAA: What 94.75% Failure Rates Mean for Your Documents
Nearly 95% of public-facing PDFs are inaccessible. With the EAA now in force and enforcement ramping up in 2026, here's exactly what accessible PDFs require and how to fix yours.
Your EAA Accessibility Statement: What It Must Contain and How to Write It
The EAA makes publishing an accessibility statement a legal obligation for private businesses. Here's exactly what it must contain - with a section-by-section structure you can copy.
EAA Fines and Penalties: What Businesses Selling Into the EU Actually Face
The EAA sets no single EU-wide fine. Each member state sets its own penalties - and a non-compliant website can face parallel enforcement from multiple countries at once. Here's what the numbers actually look like.
WCAG 2.2 vs 2.1: what changed, and why AA is still the target
WCAG 2.2 added nine success criteria and is backwards-compatible with 2.1. What changed, the four new Level AA criteria explained, and why meeting 2.2 AA covers 2.1 AA too.
Do accessibility overlays make you compliant? The honest answer
Overlay widgets promise instant accessibility. They can't deliver it. Why automated overlays don't equal WCAG, ADA or EAA compliance - and what actually works.
The European Accessibility Act is now in force: what it actually requires
The EAA has applied since 28 June 2025. Who it covers, what "accessible" means in practice (WCAG 2.1 AA via EN 301 549), the micro-enterprise carve-out, the 2030 transition, and what to do now.