Inclusion Beyond Compliance: Why Accessibility Truly Matters

As the European Accessibility Act (EAA) prepares to take full effect in June 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on the deeper meaning of accessibility — not just as a regulation, but as a human need. And like many good stories, let me start with a personal one.

A Parisian Wake-Up Call

Over 15 years ago, I arrived in Europe for the first time: bright-eyed, hopeful, and utterly confident. I landed in Paris, fresh off the plane with not a single word of French in my vocabulary.

Determined to navigate the city like a local, I took public transport to reach my hotel. I was told to go to “Saint-Lazare” station. Easy enough, I thought. I pulled out a map (this was pre-roaming data days), and began my journey.

Fast-forward 2–3 hours, and I was still frantically wandering. I eventually found Saint-Lazare, but not without frustration, confusion, and a massive hit to my confidence.

Tired and hungry, I finally checked into my hotel, excited to try my first Parisian meal. I stepped into a cozy restaurant, expecting a cinematic dining experience. But the menu was entirely in French. I asked, “Do you have an English menu, please?”

“Sorry, no English. Try the other restaurants nearby,” the waiter replied.

And just like that, the Paris I had dreamt of — Amélie, Before Sunset, Emily in Paris — shattered into quiet alienation.

Now, I don’t have a disability. But in those moments, I felt what many people with disabilities experience online every day: frustration, confusion, and exclusion.

Let’s talk about that.

How Many People Are Affected?

According to global statistics:

• 15% of the world’s 8.2 billion people have some form of disability.
• That’s 1.3 billion individuals.
• And 26% of those are adults — 351 million people who often face barriers in both the physical and digital world.

That’s roughly 1 in every 6 people.

So, What is Digital Accessibility?

Digital accessibility is the practice of designing digital content and tools that allow people with disabilities to browse, interact, and engage with the web independently and autonomously. It removes the friction that disables access in the first place.

How Do We Make Our Digital Assets Accessible?

Accessibility is multifaceted. Here are some core areas:

👁️ Visual Accessibility

• Use alt text for images and icons.
• Ensure sufficient color contrast (WCAG: 4.5:1 for regular text).
• Enable text resizing without breaking the layout.

🔇 Hearing Accessibility

• Add captions and subtitles to videos.
• Provide transcripts for audio content.
• Use visual cues for alerts and notifications.

🧼 Mobility Accessibility

• Support full keyboard navigation.
• Avoid time-limited tasks or provide extensions.
• Make all interactive elements large and easy to click.
• Avoid complex gestures (dragging, swiping).

🤓 Cognitive and Learning Accessibility

• Use clear, consistent language.
• Break content into manageable chunks.
• Avoid excessive animations or distractions.
• Provide easy-to-understand instructions and forms.

🧐 Speech Accessibility

• Support voice input alternatives and allow non-verbal interaction.
• Avoid mandatory voice-based navigation or CAPTCHA without alternatives.

🤍 Neurological and Seizure-Safe Accessibility

• Avoid flashing content that could trigger seizures.
• Offer options to reduce animations or motion effects.

But let’s face it — it’s not always easy to relate to challenges we haven’t experienced firsthand. So if empathy feels distant, here’s a practical question to ask instead: What’s in it for us?

Why should organisations invest time and resources into making their platforms accessible?

✉️ Lawsuit Prevention

Failing to comply with accessibility standards (WCAG, ADA, AODA) exposes businesses to legal and administrative risk. The EU Accessibility Act, effective July 2025, will further mandate digital accessibility.

📈 Customer Reach

Improving accessibility opens your platform to a broader market, increasing potential users, conversions, and revenue.

📃 SEO

Accessible websites often rank higher on Google. Clear semantic structure, proper headings, and alt text help improve your search visibility.

📚 Fundamental Human Rights

Accessibility is not just about technology — it’s about inclusion, dignity, and equality. It ensures that everyone, regardless of ability, can access and benefit from the web.

✨ Brand Reputation and Trust

Companies that prioritise accessibility are seen as socially responsible and forward-thinking, which builds stronger relationships with their audience.

⚙️ Innovation Enablement

Designing with accessibility in mind often leads to more innovative, flexible solutions that improve the overall user experience for everyone, not just those with disabilities.

🤝 Employee Engagement and Inclusion

Creating accessible digital platforms also means supporting diverse teams internally. Employees with disabilities can better engage with internal tools, improving morale and retention.

Accessibility is not just a checkbox — it’s a mindset. It’s a commitment to building a digital world that doesn’t leave anyone behind.

Let’s go beyond compliance. Let’s design with empathy. Let’s code with inclusivity. And let’s test with every user in mind.

As the EAA rolls out in June 2025, now is the time to act!