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With 101 million people with some form of disability in Europe, ensuring digital accessibility is no longer optional (European Council). The European Accessibility Act (EAA), which came into effect on June 28, 2025, addresses this urgency and represents a major step forward in making digital products and services more inclusive across the EU.
This article is a recap of our recent webinar The value of the European Accessibility Act: Why is accessibility more than compliance?. It explores the real value of the EAA, for individuals with disabilities and for businesses, while offering practical strategies, real-world examples, and emerging technologies that can help organizations build a more inclusive digital future.
The European Accessibility Act represents a meaningful step toward inclusion for millions of people with disabilities across Europe. As Fleur van Puijenbroek, who experienced hearing loss, explains: “If you don’t have a disability, you’re not aware of how information reaches you. But when you suddenly become dependent on technology to understand the world around you, everything changes.” Fleur’s story reflects a deeper reality: people with disabilities are too often excluded from basic communication and participation. This is why EAA is more than essential for them. It is not a luxury, but a fundamental step toward equal participation in society.
“The EAA brings us one step closer to a world where people with disabilities are truly allowed to participate” Fleur van Puijenbroek – Consultant Inclusieve Arbeidsmarkt
“The EAA brings us one step closer to a world where people with disabilities are truly allowed to participate”
Fleur van Puijenbroek – Consultant Inclusieve Arbeidsmarkt
According to the European Council, about 32,1% of people in the Netherlands have a disability. This doesn’t include short-term or temporary impairments, which also affect many people but are often ignored by businesses.
Companies rarely consider audiences with disabilities, missing a valuable opportunity to reach a wider market and boost customer engagement.
Accessible digital content creates loyal customers. Individuals with disabilities invest significant time and energy finding businesses that cater to their needs. Once they discover an accessible service, they rarely switch to competitors, since finding other suitable options can be time-consuming and challenging. A notable example is The Open University (UK), which serves over 31,000 students with declared disabilities, the highest in Europe. By embedding accessibility into its digital learning platforms (including transcripts, captions, and alternative formats), OU has built long-term trust and loyalty among a diverse student population. Their commitment ensures that students with disabilities can fully participate in learning without needing to request special accommodations.
“We aim to be open to people, places, methods, and ideas. Accessibility is embedded across our systems — it’s part of how we design learning.”Martyn Cooper – Senior Research Fellow in Accessibility, The Open University
This approach has strengthened OU’s reputation and retention rates, demonstrating that inclusive design is not only ethical, it’s also a key driver of student satisfaction and long-term engagement.
Subtitled video content reaches far beyond its originally intended audience. Research from Digiday indicates that 85% of Facebook users watch videos without sound, either to avoid disturbing others or when viewing content in public spaces. Without subtitles, these users cannot understand video messages, reducing the overall effectiveness of the content.
Subtitles become essential for effective communication across all user contexts, not just for individuals with hearing impairments.
Adopting accessibility early provides competitive advantages in customer acquisition and retention. As awareness increases, businesses with established accessibility programs gain market share from competitors struggling with compliance requirements.
Investing in accessibility pays off over time, as accessibility improvements benefit more and more customers. Companies that see accessibility as a key part of their services, not just a legal requirement, are more likely to stay ahead in the market.
Companies must inventory all digital products and services offered to consumers. This assessment involves completing accessibility checklists based on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) criteria.
Documentation requirements include accessibility status reports, employee training records, and improvement plans. Authorities expect businesses to demonstrate active engagement rather than perfect compliance from day one.
Effective implementation begins with raising awareness among employees. One example could be featuring individuals with disabilities demonstrating how they access digital content. These sessions reveal accessibility barriers on company websites and applications, helping raise awareness within the organization.
Accessibility training involves not just technical teams, but also marketing, customer service, and leadership, each playing a role through design, content, and customer interactions.
Complying with accessibility standards is a key part of successful EAA implementation. Guidelines such as the WCAG help ensure that websites and digital content are usable by everyone, including people with visual, auditory, and cognitive impairments. These guidelines follow 4 principles:
It is also important to keep clear documentation of your efforts. By tracking progress and recording updates, businesses can demonstrate ongoing commitment to accessibility. This transparency is not only helpful in case of regulatory review but it also shows customers that inclusion is part of the company’s values.
Companies that successfully implement accessibility measures focus on specific user journeys rather than attempting to make all changes simultaneously.
Examples of companies who successfully implemented digital accessibility:
The Dutch railway company NS.nl is working to make ticket purchasing processes more accessible, addressing screen reader compatibility for blind users while maintaining existing functionality for others. These improvements will enhance the user experience, reduce support requests and build more trust among users.
E-commerce platform bol.com has established dedicated accessibility feedback channels, enabling customers to report barriers and track improvement progress. This approach demonstrates a commitment to accessibility, strengthens customer loyalty and enhances user satisfaction, while also driving continuous platform improvements through direct user insights.
Modern speech recognition enables real-time accessibility. For example, municipalities use automatic transcription software like Amberscript for council meetings to provide live captions and searchable records. This helps individuals with hearing impairments participate fully without needing to take notes, ensuring accurate records of decisions and actions. Some municipalities choose human-made transcription to ensure high-quality transcripts. Transcripts also create searchable records that improve transparency and enable better civic participation.
In high-stakes or formal environments, many public-sector bodies use human-made transcripts to ensure quality, especially when decisions, legal matters, or policy details are involved. This combination of machine accuracy and human oversight creates scalable, inclusive communication.
Advanced applications include AI-powered meeting summaries, transforming long transcripts into concise briefings for public consumption. This technology is an efficient and inclusive way to make digital content accessible to everyone. Users can quickly understand meeting outcomes, follow discussions, and stay informed.
One example is Amber Notes, an AI-powered assistant recently launched in beta by Amberscript. It captures meeting highlights, decisions, and key action items in real time, reducing the burden of manual note-taking. For people with cognitive processing disorders, non-native speakers, or those who simply need to stay focused during meetings, this technology enhances participation and retention.
Use case: In a cross-functional team meeting, Amber Notes automatically generates a structured summary, from agenda topics to assigned follow-ups. This allows team members to revisit discussions without rewatching entire recordings or scrolling through chat threads, helping ensure everyone stays aligned.
Amber Notes aligns with the broader goal of digital inclusivity: helping individuals access, understand, and engage with content, regardless of hearing, focus, or language barriers.
💡 Interested in trying AI-powered meeting summaries?
Amberscript has released a free one-month trial of Amber Notes in beta. If you’re exploring how AI can support your accessibility goals, this is an opportunity to experience its potential in your own meetings. You can sign-up via this link.
The European Accessibility Act marks a critical turning point in how organizations must approach digital inclusion. While the law sets clear requirements, its true value lies in the opportunities it creates for innovation, business growth, competitive advantage, and building a more inclusive society.
Companies that embed digital accessibility aren’t just meeting a standard: they’re helping bring people with impairments one step closer to full participation in society.
By taking proactive steps, from accessibility audits and staff training to implementing speech technology, businesses are leading the way to a fairer future.
Do you want to explore this topic further? Rewatch our webinar The value of the EAA: Why accessibility is more than just compliance? to hear expert insights, real-world examples, and practical strategies for implementing digital accessibility in your organization!
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