Preparing for the New Wave of Accessibility Laws

Corbb O’Connor, Director of Accessibility Advocacy at Level Access, recently joined a Bowen Craggs webinar to discuss evolving accessibility laws across Europe and beyond. His key message was clear—and one that aligns closely with our position at AAAtraq: ensuring digital content is accessible to all users is no longer optional; it's a legal requirement. Companies that fail to comply risk lawsuits, financial penalties, and serious reputational damage.

Legal Pressure Is Rising in Europe and the US

One of the most significant developments is the European Accessibility Act (EAA), set to take effect in 2025. Under this law, any business selling digital products or services in the EU must meet specific accessibility standards. This goes far beyond ticking boxes. Non-compliance could trigger investigations resulting in legal action and heavy fines. “The penalties are starting to become clearer,” Bowen Craggs notes, with some countries proposing serious consequences, including six-figure fines and even prison time in extreme cases.

And the shift isn’t limited to Europe. In the United States, enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) continues. At AAAtraq, we track the number of digital accessibility cases filed each month and consistently see high numbers. This is clear evidence that legal pressure remains steady and significant.

Publish a Clear and Honest Accessibility Statement

To show that your organisation takes accessibility seriously and to help mitigate legal risk, Bowen Craggs advises: “The first thing you should be thinking about is an accessibility statement”. This signals to users and regulators alike that you're aware of your obligations and are actively working to meet them. Even if your site isn’t fully compliant, being transparent about your efforts builds trust and demonstrates good faith.

Combine AI Tools with Human Checks

AI tools can play a valuable role in managing accessibility. They can scan pages, flag issues, and even provide automated fixes. However, they have their limits. Real users don’t interact with your site like a bot, so human checking remains essential. Manual audits and user testing help catch context-specific problems that AI might miss, particularly those affecting people who use assistive technologies like screen readers.

Be Realistic

It’s also important to be realistic. Reaching 100% compliance is nearly impossible, especially for large or legacy websites. “Prioritise the most critical actions—such as the ones that would prevent a person with a disability from going any further,” says Corbb O’Connor. Focus first on the elements that most impact accessibility such as clear navigation, form labels, sufficient colour contrast, and compatibility with screen readers. What matters most is ensuring users can complete key tasks and access the content they need without barriers.

Act Now, Not Later

Accessibility isn’t just a compliance issue—it’s a reflection of how seriously your organisation takes inclusion, user experience, and digital responsibility. With major laws like the EAA and ADA being enforced more actively, now is the time to get your digital house in order. Focus on what matters most to users, be transparent about your progress and combine the speed of AI with the insight of human review.

You can check the accessibility status of your website for free via AAAtraq: https://aaatraq.com/check/ (opens in a new window)

For more insights, read the full Bowen Craggs article, What to know about new accessibility laws: https://www.bowencraggs.com/our-thinking/latest-articles/what-to-know-about-new-accessibility- (opens in a new window)