The aim of the European Accessibility Act
Ever wondered why some modern gadgets and services are still hard to use for certain consumer groups, especially people with disabilities or functional limitations, elderly persons or pregnant women?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) aims to change that by ensuring that a wide range of products and services are accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. This Directive 2019/882 on the accessibility requirements for products and services, was published in the Official Journal on 07.06.2019. The EAA must be transposed into national law by member state governments, with a deadline for implementation of 28.06.2025. The main objective of the EAA is to ensure people with disabilities have better access to a wide range of products and services, promote inclusivity, and facilitate independent living. It aims to harmonise accessibility standards across EU member states, making it easier for businesses to meet these standards in different countries.
Scope
The EAA covers the following products:
- computers and operating systems;
- self-service terminals: payment terminals, ATMs, ticketing machines, check-in machines and information terminals;
- consumer terminal equipment with interactive computing capability, used for electronic communications services or for accessing audio-visual media services;
- e-readers
And the EAA covers the following services:
- electronic communication services;
- services providing access to audio-visual media services;
- websites; mobile device-based services including mobile applications; electronic tickets and electronic ticketing services; delivery of transport service information, interactive self-service terminal for air, bus, rail and waterborne passenger transport services;
- consumer banking services;
- e-books and dedicated software;
- e-commerce services
Accessibility requirements
To comply with the EAA, Annex I specifies accessibility requirements for products and services. These requirements include making information easily understandable and accessible through multiple sensory channels, such as e-book readers with text-to-speech options. User interfaces should be designed for flexible use that can be easily adapted to meet the needs of users with various disabilities, ensuring that they can be operated in different ways to accommodate individual preferences and abilities. Support services, for example help desk and technical support, should provide accessible information of the products and its compatibility with assistive technologies. Additionally, packaging should include accessible information on opening, closing, use, and disposal. Clear and perceivable instructions should also be publicly accessible, such as on websites.
Additional examples of potential solutions that contribute to meeting the accessibility requirements in Annex I are available in Annex II.
Compliance procedures and key standards
The conformity assessment procedure of products can be performed using ‘internal production control’, also known as Module A or the self-declaration procedure.
The following standards can be used for that purpose:
- EN 301 549 – Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services
- EN 17161 – Design for All – Accessibility following a Design for All approach in products, goods and services – Extending the range of users
- EN 17210 – Accessibility and usability of the built environment – Functional requirements
All required compliance information should be included in a single EU Declaration of Conformity (EU DoC). Affixing a CE marking to a product indicates it meets accessibility requirements, representing the final result of the conformity assessment process.
