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Are you ready for the
The deadline for compliance is June 2025.
What is the EEA?
What is the EEA?
Overview
Overview
If you do not know what the European Accessibility Act 2025 is, but you have a customer-facing website, app or any other digital content which is used in the European Union, then you need to quickly find out if it applies to you.
In summary, it's new legislation in the EU which makes it illegal for you to exclude people with disabilities from interacting with your website, app or any other digital content you share, because it has not been designed and built to consider digital accessibility.
The new law comes into effect in June 2025 and after that point, private companies are at a much higher risk of prosecution and of receiving large fines for non-compliance, which may also affect reputation.
It may take months or even years to get to the point of acceptable compliance, but if you can prove that you are making every effort and that you're committed to new ways of working in order to reach that goal, then you will reduce that risk to a minimum.
If you're unsure if your content is compliant, then please get in touch with us today and we can help you to find out.
Who am I?
Who am I?
Michael Johnson, Accessibility Consultant
Michael Johnson, Accessibility Consultant
I am an accessibility consultant, member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) and experienced Program Manager, User Experience Designer and Front-end Developer. I set up Inclusion Today following 5 years of providing accessibility consultancy as a freelancer to various organisations around the world.
How can I help?
How can I help?
I can write a strategy for your organisation for improving accessibility beyond compliance, I can help you to deliver it, and ensure that your teams have the training, skills and support to maintain the new standard.
How do I work?
How do I work?
Remote working
Remote working
By working remotely I can reach teams in any part of the world. Everything that I do can be done remotely, which is less costly for you. I have my own equipment, but I can also use your organisation's equipment if necessary.
Focus on the 6 core aspects of digital transformation
Focus on the 6 core aspects of digital transformation
I will embed myself into your organisation, across teams, then using a stepped approach, will use research and insights to create a 'shift left' strategy, taking into consideration the 6 core aspects of digital transformation:
Leadership buy-in
Processes and procedures
Strategic goals
Tactics
Rules and guidelines
Reports and targets
Create an 'accessibility first' culture and community of self-sufficient professionals
Create an 'accessibility first' culture and community of self-sufficient professionals
I will focus on creating an 'accessibility first' culture within the organisation and:
Embed motivation by increasing awareness
Embed responsibility by formalising new processes and procedures
Embed capability by providing training
Embed support by building a dedicated accessibility team and partnering with specialists
Embed compliance by introducing an accessibility policy, rules and guidelines, and by making people accountable
Embed governance by making accessibility requirements part of the 'definition of done', and by introducing KPIs, regular audits and regular evidence-based calls to action
Step 1
Step 1
Gather information about competitors, hold stakeholder interviews, propose a pilot, make recommendations for overall cultural improvements.
Step 2
Step 2
Get sign-off for pilot product, develop a mission statement for the pilot program, design playbooks for different roles and define tasks for each of the 6 core program components, start a community for self-learning and support, establish artefacts to support the 'shift left'.
Step 3
Step 3
Deeper discovery on pilot product, review existing processes and procedures, benchmark maturity, gap analysis from insights, establish R.A.C.I., establish resources, establish measures of success, set goals and KPIs, establish nuanced compliance requirements.
Step 4
Step 4
Define improved processes and procedures, product accessibility audit, establish governance, implement a 'dual workstreams' approach, establish multiple reporting formats, upskill teams with training, integrate accessibility tools.
How long will it take?
How long will it take?
Every 'shift left' program is different because teams usually have different skills and levels of digital maturity, but 3 months to the point where the pilot team is ready, is fairly typical.
Weeks 1 to 4
Weeks 1 to 4
Discover and benchmark: Look at where you're business is at in terms of accessibility maturity, look at the competition.
Weeks 5 to 8
Weeks 5 to 8
Hypothesise and define: Look at where your products and teams are at in terms of accessibility maturity, suggest training, tools and support, start building a self-sufficient community.
Weeks 9 to 12
Weeks 9 to 12
Implement, monitor and refine: Adapt existing processes and procedures, support teams in learning and development.
Weeks 13 onwards
Weeks 13 onwards
Analyse, validate, support: Report back to senior leaders about progress made, test improvements with real users, shout about successes externally on social media and in the press, build relationships with others in the wider global accessibility community.
How will you manage long-term?
How will you manage long-term?
There are many ways that I can support teams from weeks 13 onwards. Typically there will be an opportunity for me to provide further training and workshops, and provide 'clinics' for teams to ask questions and seek hands-on help, as part of an annual support contract.
Questions?
Questions?
Email michael@inclusion.today or use the button below to be taken to our contact form on a new page.
Social
Social
Connect with Michael at Inclusion Today using the social media channels below.
Medium
Medium
Inspirational and educational writing for all.
YouTube
YouTube
Educational videos for designers and developers.
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