As the June 2025 deadline for the European Accessibility Act (EAA) approaches, businesses are under growing pressure to ensure their digital products and services are accessible to everyone. But compliance should only be the starting point. True digital inclusivity means actively working to remove barriers for people with disabilities, not just meeting legal requirements.
Beyond legal obligations, accessibility also makes business sense. With nearly 20% of the population living with some form of disability, excluding them means turning away a significant market segment with substantial spending power. Accessible products and services expand reach, boost customer loyalty, and enhance brand reputation, factors that all directly impact business success.
That’s why we’ve launched our “I Matter Too” campaign, aimed at helping businesses see accessibility as a core value, not just a checklist item ahead of the EAA. Through this campaign, we highlight the challenges many disabled people face online and the changes they want to see. Our video, available here, dives deeper into the experiences and hopes of those affected.
As part of the campaign, we’re also sharing practical tips to help businesses go beyond compliance and below you’ll find our advice on making accessibility a year-round priority.
Start with empathy: understand your users' needs
Accessibility begins with understanding the diverse needs of people who use your digital products and services. Conducting user research that includes people with disabilities can uncover real-world accessibility challenges. Hearing directly from those who encounter barriers helps teams emphasise, understand and see accessibility as essential to user experience. At Nexer Digital, we conduct user research and inclusive usability testing with people who have a range of disabilities so we can gather feedback to improve both digital products and services.
Build accessibility into design and development
Accessibility should be part of every design decision and development phase. Accessible features should not feel like add-ons; instead, they should be fundamental aspects of the digital experience. Integrating accessibility considerations into designs and using tools like colour contrast analysers and screen reader simulators during development helps identify and address potential issues early on.
Train your team on accessibility
Creating accessible digital experiences requires the commitment of the entire team, from designers and developers to content creators and project managers. Regular training on accessibility standards, guidelines, and tools ensures that every team member understands their role in building inclusive products. Hosting workshops on accessibility best practices and keeping the team updated on the latest standards and regulations, such as WCAG 2.2 and the requirements of the European Accessibility Act, are key steps toward achieving this.
Work with accessibility experts
An accessibility specialist can provide expert guidance on best practices, help identify and resolve accessibility issues and ensure that accessibility is effectively integrated across your digital offerings. Working with a specialist, like the team here at Nexer, can accelerate your team's progress and ensure your efforts are both comprehensive and compliant with the latest standards.
Test regularly with real users and assistive technology
Accessibility is not a one-off activity; it requires ongoing attention. As new content and features are added over time, they can introduce accessibility issues. Testing your website or app regularly with assistive technologies, such as screen readers, magnifiers, and voice recognition software, will help you catch accessibility issues before users do. Scheduling ongoing accessibility audits and usability testing sessions with real users can reveal issues that automated tools may miss.
Make continuous improvements a habit
As technology evolves, so do accessibility best practices. Staying up-to-date on advancements in accessibility helps you maintain a site that works well for everyone and adapts to new standards. Small, incremental improvements add up over time, creating a more seamless experience for everyone. Setting up an accessibility improvement roadmap and allocating time in each project cycle to revisit and enhance accessibility features can help make accessibility an ongoing commitment.
Engage with the accessibility community
Engaging with the broader accessibility community, attending webinars, participating in discussions, and staying informed on accessibility advancements will keep your team inspired and informed. Learning from others in the accessibility field and connecting with advocates and organisations dedicated to accessibility can provide valuable insights and help keep accessibility top of mind.
At Nexer, we believe in creating digital experiences where everyone feels they matter. Our “I Matter Too” campaign is a reminder that accessibility is not only a legal obligation but also a smart business decision and a moral responsibility.
With the EAA deadline approaching, now is the time to make accessibility a core part of your strategy. For more resources or to find out how we can help, get in touch at: hello@nexerdigital.com.
