The Accessibility Act after the deadline
28 June 2025 was the deadline after which the obligation also covers private companies. What actually changed, and who it affects now that no authority has come knocking yet.
The deadline passed. What that actually means
The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) started covering private companies on 28 June 2025. Before that date, digital accessibility in the EU was, in practice, mostly an obligation for public bodies — now it also covers, among others, e-commerce, banking, passenger transport, e-books and electronic communications services.
A passed deadline doesn't mean everyone was suddenly inspected. It means the obligation now exists regardless of whether anyone has asked yet — and that changes what's worth doing first.
What actually changed after the deadline
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The obligation exists even when nobody asks
Before the deadline, one could argue the rule wasn't yet in effect. After it, that argument is gone — it applies from the date it took effect, not from the first inspection.
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Risk from institutional clients is growing
Companies that themselves fall under the act are starting to require compliance from their own suppliers, because they're responsible for the chain of services they resell.
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The accessibility statement becomes a real document, not a formality
Its absence, or content that doesn't match reality, is now easier to challenge, because the deadline for preparing it has already passed.
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Accessibility overlays don't close the topic
This problem existed before the deadline and still exists after it — but after the deadline it's easier to show that an overlay doesn't substitute for real compliance, because the obligation is no longer disputable.
If you haven't done anything yet
- Start with an accessibility statement — even one that honestly says some elements don't yet meet the requirements. No statement is worse than an honest one with a plan to fix things.
- Get an audit before fixing things at random — half of reported "accessibility fixes" don't touch what actually blocks screen reader users.
- Prioritise by what blocks completely, not by what's easiest to fix. A form field with no label blocks a purchase; a missing alt text on a decorative background blocks nothing.
- Check your supplier contracts — if you use someone else's shop platform or booking system, part of the responsibility may sit with them, not you.
Questions
- Does the deadline mean inspections have started?
- The deadline marks when the obligation began, not an automatic wave of inspections. The risk grows gradually — through civil claims, requirements from institutional clients, and complaints, not through a single enforcement sweep.
- We've had a site for years and no one has ever reported a problem. Does that mean it's fine?
- No — no complaints doesn't mean no barriers. Someone using a screen reader on an inaccessible site usually just leaves, rather than filing a complaint.
- Where do we start on a limited budget?
- With a free automated test and an accessibility statement — both cost nothing and give a real picture of the situation before deciding the scope of a paid audit.
- Does this cover very small businesses too?
- The act provides exemptions for micro-enterprises providing services — but the exact scope needs checking case by case. That's a question for a lawyer, not a software company.
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