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The digital world is evolving faster than a Love Island romance, and with it comes a new set of responsibilities for organisations. Enter the European Accessibility Act (EAA), a game-changer for how we approach digital accessibility. But what does it all mean? If you work in the membership sector, here’s all you need to know…
Think of the EAA as the EU’s way of saying, “Let’s make the digital world work for everyone.” It’s a directive designed to harmonise accessibility requirements across member states, ensuring that products and services are accessible to people with disabilities. This isn’t just about ticking boxes... it’s about creating a more inclusive digital environment.
For membership organisations, this means any digital platforms, such as your public website or event registration systems, need to be accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities. Yes, even that clunky old Portal you’ve been meaning to update since 2015.
Short answer: probably. While the EAA is an EU directive, its reach extends beyond EU borders. If you’re a UK-based organisation, you’ll need to pay attention if you:
Even if you’re solely UK-focused, aligning with accessibility standards is just good practice. Plus, it keeps you on the right side of the Equality Act 2010. Win-win.
There are two key dates for you to be aware of, and one of them is pretty imminent!
“New” means anything launched after June 28, 2025, or any existing product/service that gets a significant update or redesign after that date. So, if you’re planning a big website overhaul, now’s the time to start thinking about accessibility.
Compliance with the EAA means meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards at a minimum. But honestly, you should really be aiming for WCAG 2.2 compliance. It future-proofs your platforms, enhances user experience, and shows you’re serious about accessibility. Here’s what that looks like:
EAA… WCAG… I’m sure you’ve got enough acronyms to be keeping up with in the world of membership! Let me explain the difference between the two. If the EAA is the law, WCAG is the playbook. The EAA mandates accessibility for a wide range of products and services, while WCAG 2.2 AA is a technical standard focused on web and digital content. For membership organisations, this means you need to think beyond just your website, it’s about making all aspects of your services accessible.
In short, accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.
Work with a specialist to identify barriers and create a roadmap for improvement.
Prioritise quick wins and longer-term changes. Accessibility is a journey, not a sprint.
Be transparent about where you are and what you’re doing to improve. It’s not about being perfect…it’s about progress.
We believe accessibility isn’t just about compliance, it’s about creating better digital experiences for everyone. Our work with organisations like the Youth Sport Trust has shown that accessible design can drive real impact. (and yes, we’ve got the awards to prove it.)
The EAA might feel like just another regulation to deal with, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an opportunity to create digital spaces that work for everyone, and that’s something worth getting behind.
Creating accessible digital spaces isn't just about meeting legal requirements, it's about building better experiences for all your members. Start your accessibility journey today and find yourself an experienced accessibility partner like Cantarus.
Image credit: Hero image by Disability:IN.
Our Creative Director, Rob Helsby, would love to chat with you.