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Is Your Website EU EAA Compliant? 10 Quick Tests to Find Out (2026)

The threat of hefty fines and reputational damage looms large for businesses operating within the European Union. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2026...

ATAccessio Team
6 minutes read

The threat of hefty fines and reputational damage looms large for businesses operating within the European Union. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2026 isn't a distant future; it’s reshaping the digital landscape now. Many organizations are still grappling with how to achieve and maintain compliance. Are your website and mobile apps truly accessible? This article cuts through the jargon and provides 10 practical tests you can perform today to assess your current standing against the EAA and the underlying Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). We'll focus on the crucial changes introduced by WCAG 2.2 and how they impact your compliance strategy.

Understanding the EAA & WCAG: A Quick Primer

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) sets accessibility requirements for the websites, mobile apps, and other digital services offered by public and private entities. It's underpinned by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). WCAG isn't law itself, but the EAA mandates compliance with specific WCAG versions. Currently, the EAA requires compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, with a transition to WCAG 2.2 Level AA required by 2026. WCAG 3.0 is in development, but its impact on the EAA is yet to be fully defined.

Why the shift to WCAG 2.2? It introduces 11 new success criteria designed to address emerging accessibility challenges, particularly around mobile accessibility, time-based media, and accessibility for people with cognitive disabilities. Ignoring these updates is a surefire path to non-compliance.

10 Quick Tests for EAA Compliance (2026)

These tests are designed to be relatively quick and easy to perform, providing a snapshot of your website's accessibility. Remember, these are tests, not exhaustive audits. A full accessibility audit by a qualified professional is always recommended.

1. Keyboard Navigation: Can You Do Everything?

  • The Test: Disconnect your mouse. Can you navigate every interactive element (links, buttons, form fields) using only the Tab key, Shift+Tab, and Enter/Spacebar?
  • Why It Matters: Many users rely on keyboard navigation due to motor impairments or assistive technology.
  • WCAG 2.2 Relevance: Success Criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard) is fundamental. WCAG 2.2 expands on this with more precise requirements for focus indicators.
  • Common Failure: Missing or unclear focus indicators, trapped keyboard focus.

2. Screen Reader Compatibility: Is Your Content Readable?

  • The Test: Use a screen reader (like NVDA, VoiceOver, or JAWS) to navigate your website. Does the content read logically? Are images described? Are headings used correctly?
  • Why It Matters: Blind and visually impaired users depend on screen readers to access digital content.
  • WCAG 2.2 Relevance: Success Criteria 1.1.1 (Non-text Content), 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships), and 2.4.6 (Headings) are crucial.
  • Common Failure: Missing alt text on images, illogical reading order, improper heading structure.

3. Color Contrast: Is It Legible?

  • The Test: Use a color contrast checker (like WebAIM's Contrast Checker) to verify that the contrast ratio between text and background colors meets WCAG requirements (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
  • Why It Matters: Low contrast makes it difficult for users with low vision or color blindness to read content.
  • WCAG 2.2 Relevance: Success Criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast (Minimum)) is directly impacted.
  • Common Failure: Insufficient contrast between text and background, particularly on buttons and links.

4. Form Labeling: Are Fields Clearly Identified?

  • The Test: Examine your forms. Are all input fields properly labeled? Are labels associated with their corresponding fields?
  • Why It Matters: Users need to understand what information is required in each field.
  • WCAG 2.2 Relevance: Success Criterion 3.3.2 (Labels or Instructions) is key.
  • Common Failure: Missing labels, incorrectly associated labels, unclear instructions.

5. Image Alt Text: Is it Descriptive and Contextual?

  • The Test: Review the alt text for all images on a representative sample of pages. Is the alt text accurate and descriptive? Does it convey the purpose of the image?
  • Why It Matters: Screen readers rely on alt text to describe images to users who cannot see them.
  • WCAG 2.2 Relevance: Success Criterion 1.1.1 (Non-text Content)
  • Common Failure: Missing alt text, generic alt text ("image," "graphic"), alt text that doesn't accurately describe the image’s function.

6. Video Captions & Transcripts: Are They Available?

  • The Test: Check if all videos have accurate captions and transcripts available.
  • Why It Matters: Deaf and hard-of-hearing users rely on captions and transcripts to understand video content.
  • WCAG 2.2 Relevance: Success Criteria 1.2.2 (Captions) and 1.2.5 (Audio Descriptions) are essential.
  • Common Failure: Missing captions, inaccurate captions, no transcripts.

7. Live Captions & Audio Descriptions: Emerging Needs

  • The Test: If your site features live video streams, are live captions and audio descriptions provided?
  • Why It Matters: Addresses the needs of real-time video consumption by users with disabilities.
  • WCAG 2.2 Relevance: Success Criteria 1.2.7 (Time-based Media) and the new success criteria related to live media.
  • Common Failure: Lack of real-time captioning and audio descriptions.

8. Non-speech Audio: Is It Accompanied by Alternatives?

  • The Test: Are all non-speech audio elements (e.g., sounds, alerts) accompanied by text alternatives or visual cues?
  • Why It Matters: Users who are deaf or hard of hearing need alternative ways to understand audio cues.
  • WCAG 2.2 Relevance: Success Criterion 1.2.4 (Non-text Content)
  • Common Failure: Reliance on audio cues without providing visual or textual alternatives.

9. Cognitive Accessibility: Is Your Content Understandable?

  • The Test: Assess the language used on your website. Is it clear, concise, and easy to understand? Avoid jargon and complex sentence structures.
  • Why It Matters: People with cognitive disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, ADHD) may struggle to understand complex content.
  • WCAG 2.2 Relevance: Success Criterion 3.1.5 (Reading Level) and the new criteria addressing predictable language and clear navigation.
  • Common Failure: Use of complex language, ambiguous instructions, inconsistent navigation.

10. Dynamic Content Updates: Are They Accessible?

  • The Test: If your site uses AJAX or other dynamic content updates, ensure that these updates are announced to screen readers.
  • Why It Matters: Users need to be aware of changes to the page content.
  • WCAG 2.2 Relevance: Success Criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value)
  • Common Failure: Silent updates that are not announced to assistive technologies.

Case Study: The Retailer’s Accessibility Overhaul

A large online retailer faced a lawsuit alleging EAA non-compliance. Their initial audit revealed significant issues across all ten of these test areas. They attempted to address these through an accessibility overlay, but this proved ineffective. The overlay masked the underlying problems, and users still experienced significant barriers. Ultimately, they invested in a complete code-level accessibility overhaul, focusing on semantic HTML, ARIA attributes, and improved keyboard navigation. This comprehensive approach, coupled with ongoing accessibility training for their development team, led to a successful resolution of the lawsuit and a significant improvement in user experience.

Key Takeaways: Your 2026 Compliance Roadmap

  • WCAG 2.2 is now mandatory: Don't delay incorporating these new success criteria.
  • Overlays are not a solution: They are a band-aid that doesn't address the root cause of accessibility issues.
  • Cognitive accessibility matters: Focus on clear language and predictable navigation.
  • Continuous monitoring is essential: Accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.

Next Steps: Achieving and Maintaining EAA Compliance

  1. Conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit: Engage a qualified accessibility consultant to perform a thorough assessment.
  2. Prioritize remediation efforts: Focus on the most critical issues first.
  3. Integrate accessibility into your development workflow: Train your developers and designers on accessibility best practices.
  4. Use AI-powered accessibility tools: Tools like Accessio.ai can automate many of these tests and identify issues at the source code level, drastically reducing remediation time and improving accuracy. Unlike overlay widgets, Accessio.ai fixes problems at their root, ensuring a truly accessible experience.
  5. Establish a process for ongoing monitoring and maintenance: Regularly test your website and mobile apps to ensure continued compliance.

The EAA is here to stay. Proactive measures taken now will not only ensure compliance but also improve the user experience for all visitors to your website. Don't wait until a legal notice arrives – start your accessibility journey today.

Is Your Website EU EAA Compliant? 10 Quick Tests to Find Out (2026) | AccessioAI