What is the European Accessibility Act and how does it impact digital learning?
Posted on the April 15th, 2025
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into effect on 28th June 2025, bringing changes for organisations that design, deliver or rely on digital learning content and learning platforms across the European Union (EU).
The EAA is a new legislative initiative by the European Union (EU) designed to improve accessibility in key products and services. It aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and enforces a minimum level of accessibility across the EU to ensure equal participation for all users.
This blog is one of four in our accessibility in eLearning series, created to help your organisation understand the changes ahead and take action towards compliance and inclusion for your learners.
Our resources are grouped across three types, allowing you to explore all aspects of the topic in a personalised way that matches your own starting point.
KNOWLEDGE: Resources to help you build your knowledge and understanding of accessibility as it applies to digital learning.
INTENT: Insights and thought leadership on different aspects of accessibility and digital learning and how your organisation can take a leadership stance in both.
ACT: Practical tips and resources to help you to be proactive in implementing accessibility steps for digital learning.
This is a KNOWLEDGE resource designed to help you understand how the EAA will affect digital learning and what steps your organisation can take to go beyond compliance, delivering accessible learning that works for everyone.
What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU-wide piece of legislation that aims to make key digital products and services - including online learning platforms, mobile apps, and digital learning content, accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
Effective from 28th June 2025, the EAA requires businesses and organisations to provide accessible digital content and technology to ensure equal participation for all users.
To explain what ‘accessible’ means in practice, the EAA refers to EN 301 549, a European standard that outlines the technical accessibility requirements for digital services. This standard is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), currently version 2.2.
Think of it like this:
- The EAA says: "You must make your digital content accessible."
- EN 301 549 says: "Here’s how to do that in technical detail."
- WCAG 2.2 provides the practical rules - ensuring content is Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust (POUR), to make websites, digital platforms and learning content work better for people with disabilities.
What is Digital Accessibility?
Digital accessibility ensures that all learners, regardless of ability, can access and engage with online learning content. This includes individuals using different devices in various environments and with different needs.
Ensuring digital accessibility reduces barriers for learners, promotes equality across teams and organisations and enhances the user experience for everyone. Beyond being a legal obligation, it is simply good practice, including improved learner engagement and a more inclusive learning environment, giving fair access to education and training.
Who does the EAA apply to?
The EAA applies to any organisation providing digital products and services within the EU, regardless of their headquartered location. This includes UK-based businesses that operate within the EU market or serve EU-based users.
Digital learning providers must ensure their content is fully accessible or risk potential penalties and in the worst cases, exclusion from the EU market.
How the EAA impacts digital learning
The EAA introduces new legal obligations for how digital learning content is created, delivered and maintained. This includes eLearning courses, online assessments, mobile learning apps and learning platforms like learning management systems.
The EAA mandates the integration of key accessibility features into digital learning content, including:
- Text-to-speech compatibility for users with visual impairments.
- Closed captions and audio descriptions for multimedia content.
- Alternative text for images.
- Adjustable font sizes for readability.
- Keyboard navigation for users who cannot use a mouse.
- High-contrast options for better legibility.
Any new digital learning products and services launched from 28th June 2025 must conform to the EAA. To prepare for this, your organisation should actively plan and work towards compliance with an audit of your current digital learning content and redesigning where needed.
A great starting point is our eLearning Accessibility Checklist, which provides easy-to-follow guidance on structuring and aligning your learning content with the new EAA guidelines.
What to do next: Get audit-ready and act
The EAA represents a significant step forward for digital accessibility. Our eLearning Accessibility Checklist is a practical and valuable place to begin your accessibility journey. To review your current learning content and ensure it meets the full scope of the EAA legislation, it’s important to carry out an audit to help you identify accessibility gaps and prioritise improvements.
Need support? We’re here to help. Our Audit and Edit service, in partnership with Shaw Trust, helps you assess and improve your digital learning materials, ensuring they meet EAA accessibility standards in 2025 and into the future.
We also invite you to join our upcoming accessibility webinar, 'Digital learning and the EAA: 5 steps to accessibility compliance.' delivered in partnership with Shaw Trust on Wednesday 21 May 2025. This expert-led session will look ahead to the EAA deadline and outline a 5-step roadmap to help your organisation ensure that its digital learning is fully compliant with the EAA.
Stay tuned to aurionlearning.com and our social channels for more useful accessible learning support materials in the coming weeks, helping you to create truly inclusive learning experiences ahead of the EAA deadline.
Blog 2 in our series will explore ‘How accessibility improves learner engagement and outcomes’ and how accessible learning benefits all users, leading to better learning experiences for everyone.
Common questions about the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
Legal disclaimer
The information presented in this blog reflects our interpretation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) as it relates to digital learning tools and platforms. While the EAA does not specifically reference “eLearning,” many online learning services fall within its broader scope and the nature of the service means you’re still responsible for ensuring accessibility compliance.
This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance specific to your organisation or jurisdiction, please consult a qualified legal professional with expertise in accessibility and compliance law.
