Website accessibility – obligations under the EAA

Attention website owners! Regulations on website accessibility are now in force – Directive 2019/882 – the European Accessibility Act. In Poland the EAA was implemented through the Act of 26 April 2024 on ensuring that certain products and services meet accessibility requirements.

What does it mean in practice? The website must be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

What you have to do:

• Images: add alt text.
• Videos: add captions.
• Navigation: make sure the site works without a mouse.
• Readability: ensure proper contrast and clear descriptions.
• Forms: clear and readable field labels.

Why it matters: not only a legal obligation, but also a chance to reach a wider audience.

Consequences: financial penalties, even being disconnected from the server.

This is the last moment to audit your website (tools: WAVE, Lighthouse) and have it tested with the keyboard only. Accessibility is an ongoing process – keep improving and reviewing regularly.