Accessibility

Enter a world without limitations and create a digital world where all abilities are equal, because accessibility is not just a trend, but a necessity in the modern world.

Websites, applications, and products should be designed so that they can be used without problems by all types of users, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities.

EAA WCAG 2.2: Key Changes for Digital Services and Websites

The European Accessibility Act comes into effect in Slovakia from June 28, 2025. Its main goal is to improve the accessibility of products and services for people with disabilities across the EU.

The directive will affect all websites, e-shops, and mobile applications. The only exception is micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of up to 2 million euros.
Remember, if this directive is violated, fines can reach up to €30,000!

Read more in our blog.

Accessibility or web accessibility means that a website or web application can be perceived, understood, navigated, and fully used by all people regardless of their abilities or limitations.

However, accessibility is not only important for people with disabilities. It significantly helps older users who may have vision problems, fine motor skills issues, or are not as proficient in using modern technologies. This group represents a growing segment of internet users who want to shop online, search for information, and use digital services.

The goal of WCAG standards is inclusion – to create equal conditions for everyone in the digital environment. An accessible web is not only a legal obligation but also a business opportunity to reach a wider group of customers.

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EAA applies to a wide range of digital services. For websites and e-shops, this means they must be accessible to all users. It's not just about the main page, but the entire online shopping journey. This includes:

Website design and functionality: Such as navigation, content display, forms, and all interactive elements.
Payment process: It must be simple and accessible to complete the purchase.
Digital content: Product descriptions, images, videos, and other media.
Customer support: Accessible contact methods and documentation.

In addition to websites and e-shops, EAA also concerns other digital services and channels, such as email messages, PDF documents, online chats, or chatbots.

Micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of less than 2 million euros.
Old content and archives (e.g., videos, podcasts) and office file formats that were published before June 28, 2025. The same applies to websites and mobile applications considered as archives and not updated or edited after June 28, 2025.
Services provided under a contract concluded by June 28, 2025 are exempt until the expiration of this contract, but no later than June 28, 2030.

WCAG 2.2 is the latest version of web accessibility standards, which extends WCAG 2.1 with new accessibility criteria. The basic principles remain the same and are divided into four main categories:

Perceivable: Content must be accessible through various senses, such as sight, hearing, or touch.
Operable: The interface and navigation must be easily operable, even using alternative methods (e.g., keyboard).
Understandable: Information and controls must be clear and easy to understand.
Robust: Content must work reliably with various technologies and assistive tools.

Accessibility audit vám pomôže splniť EAA požiadavky

Accessibility Audit is a crucial first step to ensure that your website or application is not only functional but also truly accessible to everyone. We will uncover all barriers that may hinder users and provide you with a detailed analysis along with clear and immediately applicable recommendations. We follow the latest WCAG 2.2 standards to help you create a digital environment that is not only modern and functional but also inclusive.

Accessibility Audit

We will conduct an inventory of all your digital services and channels (not just the website and e-shop, but also emails, PDF documents, online chat, or chatbot) and perform their comprehensive accessibility audit. However, accessibility is not a one-time matter – we recommend checking it regularly, especially after major updates or as part of maintenance.

Implementation of changes

The output of the audit is a detailed analysis of issues such as text readability, intuitive navigation, color contrast, size of active elements, keyboard operability, and media accessibility. Our recommendations are clear, practical, and guaranteed to elevate your digital space to a new level.

Accessibility Statement

We will help you create, publish, and regularly update the mandatory Accessibility Statement on your website/e-shop. This document must contain a description of the service, its operation, and how it meets accessibility requirements.

Administrator training

To ensure accessibility is maintained in the future, we will train your team to manage and maintain the changes made. Together, we will ensure that your website or application remains functional, accessible, and ready for every user, even with further changes.

ui42 is a one-stop shop agency, which means we provide comprehensive solutions that will help you succeed with your project in the online world. At ui42, you can find everything you need under one roof, from custom web development and e-commerce solutions, to user experience, online marketing, and digital products created by ui42 for the success of your online business.

What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and why is it important?

European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a legislative framework of the European Union, whose main goal is to improve the accessibility of products and services for people with disabilities across the EU. For websites and e-shops, this means the obligation to ensure that they are accessible to all users regardless of their abilities.

The importance of the EAA is not only in the legal obligation. For example, for e-shops, better accessibility can also lead to increased sales if you have seniors or other groups among your customers for whom accessibility is crucial.

Who does the European Accessibility Act (EAA) concern?

EAA applies to a wide range of products and services in the EU. Specifically for websites and e-shops, this means they must be accessible to all users. EAA was transposed into Slovak law by Act 351/2022 Coll. on the accessibility of products and services for persons with disabilities. The responsibility for the accessibility of a website/e-shop lies with the operator.

What digital services and content fall under the EAA?

EAA applies to the entire online shopping journey for websites and e-shops. This includes:

Website design and functionality: Navigation, content presentation, forms, and interactive elements.
Payment process: It must be ensured that users can easily complete purchases.
Digital content: Product descriptions, images, videos, and other media.
Customer support: Accessible contact methods and support documentation.

In addition to websites and e-shops, EAA also concerns other digital services and channels, such as email messages, PDF documents, online chat, or chatbots.

When does the EAA take effect and what are the key dates?

Act 351/2022 Coll., which transposes the EAA into Slovak law, comes into effect on June 28, 2025.

Key terms and rules:

Immediate accessibility after June 28, 2025: Any new functionality, change, update, or editing of the site made after June 28, 2025, must be immediately accessible according to legal requirements.
Exemption for old contracts: For services provided under a contract concluded by June 28, 2025, an exemption applies until the expiration of this contract, but no longer than until June 28, 2030. Even in this case, any new functionality, change, or update of the site made after June 28, 2025, must be immediately accessible.

What accessibility standards does the EAA require?

Slovak legislation specifies that websites and mobile applications must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and reliable. This refers to Decree No. 78/2020 Coll., which sets the accessibility standard according to EN 301 549 v. 3.2.1. In practice, this means compliance with the rules of WCAG 2.1 AA and above.

Important notice: Although compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA is not required today, it is assumed that the future standard EN 301 549 v 4.1.1 (expected at the end of this year or next year) will already include WCAG 2.2 AA. For this reason, ui42 already recommends and conducts audits on WCAG 2.2 AA.

What are the exceptions to the EAA requirements?

Not all entities and types of content are subject to EAA requirements. There are several important exceptions and transitional provisions:

Micro-enterprises: If your company employs fewer than 10 employees and has an annual turnover or balance sheet less than 2 million euros, then the EAA does not apply to you.
Old content and archives: You do not need to modify pre-recorded time-based media (e.g., videos, podcasts) and office file formats that were published before June 28, 2025. The same applies to websites and mobile applications considered as archives and not updated or edited after June 28, 2025.
Services provided under old contracts: For services provided under a contract concluded by June 28, 2025, there is an exemption from the accessibility requirements of the service until the expiration of this contract, but no later than June 28, 2030. However, it is important to remember that any new functionality, change, or update to the site made after June 28, 2025 must be immediately accessible.

What steps should websites and e-shops take to comply with the EAA?

Ui42 recommends the following procedure to meet the EAA:

Conduct an accessibility audit:

Make an inventory of all digital services and channels (web, e-shop, email, PDF, online chat, chatbot, etc.).
Conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit for all identified services. Ui42 offers audits.
NOTE: It is necessary to test all PDF documents that reach the user.

Fix accessibility according to the audit
Publish an Accessibility Statement on the web/e-shop
Continuous monitoring and regular audits:

Accessibility is not a one-time project. Every change in content and functionality must meet accessibility requirements.
It is essential to regularly audit the accessibility of the entire website/e-shop.
The website/e-shop operator is responsible for understanding accessibility and addressing it.

What documentation does the EAA require?

The website/e-shop operator is obliged to create, publish, and update two types of documents according to §6 of Act 351/2022 Coll.:

Accessibility Statement (published on the website/e-shop):

It can be part of the general terms and conditions or a separate document (recommended).
It must contain: a general description of the service in accessible formats, descriptions and explanations of the service's operation, and a description of how the service meets accessibility requirements.
It is recommended to prepare and publish it as soon as possible and then update it after an audit and after correcting errors.
There are three variants of the statement: initial (before the audit), post-audit (without modifications), and post-audit (with corrections, stating exceptions).
It must also include an accessible way for users to report accessibility barriers (e.g., email address or contact form).

Internal Documentation (internal project document):

This is an internal document that records procedures ensuring the website/e-shop's compliance with accessibility requirements even when the service or requirements change.
It is used for potential inspection.
The operator must prepare a defensible justification for any exceptions and documentation proving that accessibility is duly addressed.