EAA vs ADA vs WCAG: Which Accessibility Laws Apply to You?
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Accessibility is a must have feature because it is 2025. Now, accessibility standards are legal, ethical, and business imperatives.
If you are a business owner, website developer, or brand operating across borders, you have probably come across a few acronyms: EAA, ADA, and WCAG.
But which one applies to you? Are you at risk of being non-compliant? What can you do to stay safe? Can the European Accessibility Act 2025 make your business inclusive? Or do you need to focus on the ADA to stay ahead of the curve? ADACP is here with all the answers.
What is the ADA?
Passed in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law. It ensures that individuals with disabilities are treated fairly in all areas of public life. It protects their rights at work, in schools and on public transport. It applies to all places that are open to the general public.
A significant shift happened in 2018. The ADA declared that websites and mobile apps are part of public accommodations. That means your business website needs to be accessible to users with disabilities.
Who must comply with the ADA?
US based businesses
Foreign businesses offering goods/services to the US residents
State and local governments
Consequences of non-compliance:
Legal lawsuits are the biggest risk of ignoring the importance of the ADA. Businesses faced settlements that often exceed $50,000 to $100,000. Other repercussions are brand damage and customer trust issues.
ADA does not prescribe a specific technical standard, but courts and the Department of Justice (DOJ) commonly reference WCAG 2.1 AA as the benchmark. We will discuss WCAG later in this blog.
What is the EAA?
The European Accessibility Act is an EU directive that the authorities adopted in 2019. It improves the accessibility of products and services for disabled users. The ADA is civil rights legislation but the EAA is a market harmonization law meant to remove barriers across member states.
Who must emphasize on the EAA Compliance?
Businesses operating in EU member states
Non-EU businesses selling products/services in the EU market
EAA compliance will become mandatory by June 28, 2025. It applies to websites, mobile apps, ATMs, e-books, online shops, transport services, and more.
Penalties for non-compliance:
- Fines and enforcement actions from national authorities
- Barriers to market entry across the EU
A global business must future-proof its website and services against EAA requirements today, not tomorrow.
What is WCAG?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are not laws. They are global technical standards published by the W3C. WCAG standards make websites, apps, and digital tools usable for everyone. It address the barriers faced by users with vision problems, hearing problems, cognitive dysfunction and motor disabilities.
The latest version WCAG 2.2 was released in2023. The most referenced standard is WCAG 2.1 AA. It is still widely used in legal frameworks like ADA and EAA.
WCAG is structured around four key principles.
Perceivable: Can all users perceive the content?
Operable: Can all users navigate and interact?
Understandable: Is the content clear and predictable?
Robust: Can assistive technologies reliably interpret it?
Which accessibility law applies to you?
You must comply with multiple frameworks if you serve users in multiple regions.
Why does EAA accessibility Matter more in 2025 and Beyond
Serial lawsuits are on the rise. Mandatory EAA compliance means brands need to start redesigning and remediating now.
Brand trust depends on inclusivity: 71% of consumers with disabilities say they will leave a website that is not accessible.
Do you still believe that inaccessibility is just a legal risk? Well, it is a missed business opportunity.
Common Doubts, Clear Answers about ADA and EAA Compliance
My site is not big. Does this apply tome?
Yes. ADA and EAA apply to small businesses too. Size does not protect you from legal risks.
Isn’t accessibility just for blind users?
Nope. Accessibility includes people with cognitive issues, mobility challenges, hearing impairments, and more.
We did an automated scan. Are we safe?
An automated WCAG compliance checker is not really sufficient. You need a manual audit by certified professionals.
Are accessibility audits expensive?
It is way more expensive to be sued. Proactive accessibility is an investment that pays off.
A Clear Action Plan to achieve compliance with the EU Accessibility Act
- Conduct an audit: Start with a manual WCAG 2.1 AA audit by professionals.
- Remediate with intention: Fix issues in design, development, and content layers.
- Train your team: Designers, developers, and content writers must all understand accessibility basics.
- Maintain compliance: Accessibility is not a one-time task. Every update must be checked.
- Document everything: Keep logs of audits, fixes, and best practices for legal defense.
Automated testing tools can help identify some common issues. However, websites fail WCAG 2.1 checks with only automated testing. Automated scans alone are not enough. Manual audits conducted by accessibility experts reveal deeper issues like:
- Broken screen reader workflows
- Poor keyboard navigation
- Inconsistent heading structures
- Lack of meaningful focus indicators
Why Choose ADACP
So many accessibility laws and updates can feel overwhelming. That is why all sizes of organizations trust us. We make compliance simple, transparent and powerful for you.
- Certified experts: Our auditors are IAAP and WCAG-certified.
- Tailored support: We know the laws, so choose us even if you are operating in the US, EU, or both.
- Manual + automated testing: We go beyond checklists and involve human intervention in accessibility checks.
- Remediation-ready: We give you detailed reports and also help you fix things.
Our clients consistently reduce legal risks, improve usability, and open their doors to millions of users who were previously locked out.
Final Words
Digital accessibility is no longer optional for startups, enterprises, or government agencies. ADA, EAA, and WCAG may sound like alphabet soup, but they spell opportunities to grow, lead and do better.
Let ADACP be your accessibility ally.
Contact us for a free consultation. Our experts will guide you in making your digital presence inclusive, compliant and future-ready.
Ready to be inclusive? Contact us now for the ADA and the European Accessibility Act 2025 compliance.
Accessibility is a must have feature because it is 2025. Now, accessibility standards are legal, ethical, and business imperatives.
If you are a business owner, website developer, or brand operating across borders, you have probably come across a few acronyms: EAA, ADA, and WCAG.
But which one applies to you? Are you at risk of being non-compliant? What can you do to stay safe? Can the European Accessibility Act 2025 make your business inclusive? Or do you need to focus on the ADA to stay ahead of the curve? ADACP is here with all the answers.
What is the ADA?
Passed in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law. It ensures that individuals with disabilities are treated fairly in all areas of public life. It protects their rights at work, in schools and on public transport. It applies to all places that are open to the general public.
A significant shift happened in 2018. The ADA declared that websites and mobile apps are part of public accommodations. That means your business website needs to be accessible to users with disabilities.
Who must comply with the ADA?
US based businesses
Foreign businesses offering goods/services to the US residents
State and local governments
Consequences of non-compliance:
Legal lawsuits are the biggest risk of ignoring the importance of the ADA. Businesses faced settlements that often exceed $50,000 to $100,000. Other repercussions are brand damage and customer trust issues.
ADA does not prescribe a specific technical standard, but courts and the Department of Justice (DOJ) commonly reference WCAG 2.1 AA as the benchmark. We will discuss WCAG later in this blog.
What is the EAA?
The European Accessibility Act is an EU directive that the authorities adopted in 2019. It improves the accessibility of products and services for disabled users. The ADA is civil rights legislation but the EAA is a market harmonization law meant to remove barriers across member states.
Who must emphasize on the EAA Compliance?
Businesses operating in EU member states
Non-EU businesses selling products/services in the EU market
EAA compliance will become mandatory by June 28, 2025. It applies to websites, mobile apps, ATMs, e-books, online shops, transport services, and more.
Penalties for non-compliance:
- Fines and enforcement actions from national authorities
- Barriers to market entry across the EU
A global business must future-proof its website and services against EAA requirements today, not tomorrow.
What is WCAG?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are not laws. They are global technical standards published by the W3C. WCAG standards make websites, apps, and digital tools usable for everyone. It address the barriers faced by users with vision problems, hearing problems, cognitive dysfunction and motor disabilities.
The latest version WCAG 2.2 was released in2023. The most referenced standard is WCAG 2.1 AA. It is still widely used in legal frameworks like ADA and EAA.
WCAG is structured around four key principles.
Perceivable: Can all users perceive the content?
Operable: Can all users navigate and interact?
Understandable: Is the content clear and predictable?
Robust: Can assistive technologies reliably interpret it?
Which accessibility law applies to you?
You must comply with multiple frameworks if you serve users in multiple regions.
Why does EAA accessibility Matter more in 2025 and Beyond
Serial lawsuits are on the rise. Mandatory EAA compliance means brands need to start redesigning and remediating now.
Brand trust depends on inclusivity: 71% of consumers with disabilities say they will leave a website that is not accessible.
Do you still believe that inaccessibility is just a legal risk? Well, it is a missed business opportunity.
Common Doubts, Clear Answers about ADA and EAA Compliance
My site is not big. Does this apply tome?
Yes. ADA and EAA apply to small businesses too. Size does not protect you from legal risks.
Isn’t accessibility just for blind users?
Nope. Accessibility includes people with cognitive issues, mobility challenges, hearing impairments, and more.
We did an automated scan. Are we safe?
An automated WCAG compliance checker is not really sufficient. You need a manual audit by certified professionals.
Are accessibility audits expensive?
It is way more expensive to be sued. Proactive accessibility is an investment that pays off.
A Clear Action Plan to achieve compliance with the EU Accessibility Act
- Conduct an audit: Start with a manual WCAG 2.1 AA audit by professionals.
- Remediate with intention: Fix issues in design, development, and content layers.
- Train your team: Designers, developers, and content writers must all understand accessibility basics.
- Maintain compliance: Accessibility is not a one-time task. Every update must be checked.
- Document everything: Keep logs of audits, fixes, and best practices for legal defense.
Automated testing tools can help identify some common issues. However, websites fail WCAG 2.1 checks with only automated testing. Automated scans alone are not enough. Manual audits conducted by accessibility experts reveal deeper issues like:
- Broken screen reader workflows
- Poor keyboard navigation
- Inconsistent heading structures
- Lack of meaningful focus indicators
Why Choose ADACP
So many accessibility laws and updates can feel overwhelming. That is why all sizes of organizations trust us. We make compliance simple, transparent and powerful for you.
- Certified experts: Our auditors are IAAP and WCAG-certified.
- Tailored support: We know the laws, so choose us even if you are operating in the US, EU, or both.
- Manual + automated testing: We go beyond checklists and involve human intervention in accessibility checks.
- Remediation-ready: We give you detailed reports and also help you fix things.
Our clients consistently reduce legal risks, improve usability, and open their doors to millions of users who were previously locked out.
Final Words
Digital accessibility is no longer optional for startups, enterprises, or government agencies. ADA, EAA, and WCAG may sound like alphabet soup, but they spell opportunities to grow, lead and do better.
Let ADACP be your accessibility ally.
Contact us for a free consultation. Our experts will guide you in making your digital presence inclusive, compliant and future-ready.
Ready to be inclusive? Contact us now for the ADA and the European Accessibility Act 2025 compliance.
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