The European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline has passed. For publishers, retailers, platforms, and educational content providers distributing digital products in the European Union (EU), this is a critical moment. The grace period is over, and compliance with digital accessibility standards is no longer optional; it’s a legal requirement. Whether you’re creating eBooks, managing digital libraries, distributing online learning content, or operating an eCommerce platform, your content must now be accessible to people with disabilities.

So, what’s next?

This blog breaks down practical post-deadline strategies for EAA compliance in 2025, focusing on accessibility testing tools, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) testing for publishers, and building a long-term content accessibility strategy.

What is the EAA and how does it affect digital publishers?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a directive introduced by the European Union to ensure that a wide range of products and services, especially digital ones, are accessible to people with disabilities. This includes eBooks, eCommerce platforms, mobile apps, hardware, and more.

For digital publishers and retailers, this means every piece of content from textbooks and eBooks to educational portals and online stores must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with disabilities.

The EAA aligns closely with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), particularly WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Publishers must now meet specific criteria in how content is structured, displayed, and navigated, ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers and voice commands.

Failure to comply can not only lead to penalties or restricted market access in the EU, but also reputational risk and exclusion of a significant user base.

What happens if content is not EAA-compliant after 2025?

If your digital content is not EAA-compliant post-2025, the consequences are real:

• Legal Repercussions: Non-compliance can trigger investigations, financial penalties, or product bans within EU markets. Authorities in each EU country are empowered to enforce accessibility.
• Market Exclusion: Inaccessible products may be removed from digital storefronts or rejected by institutional buyers in education and government.
• Brand Damage: Being non-compliant is equivalent to being non-inclusive. This is a deal-breaker in the eyes of consumers, educational institutions, and corporate partners.
• Missed Opportunities: Globally, over 1 billion people live with disabilities. Non-compliance excludes a vast segment of potential users’ students, readers, shoppers who depend on accessible digital content.

For publishers and platforms operating in or targeting the EU, accessibility is no longer an enhancement, it’s a baseline requirement.

What accessibility testing strategies work best post-deadline?

Choosing the right accessibility testing strategy is critical for ensuring ongoing compliance with the EAA and WCAG standards. While automated tools offer a strong starting point by identifying common issues during content creation or development, they are just one part of the puzzle. To achieve a meaningful level of accessibility, publishers and platforms should implement a multi-layered approach that includes manual testing, screen reader evaluations, and periodic content audits. This ensures that content is not only technically compliant but also functionally usable by people with disabilities.

For publishers managing high volumes of digital content such as eBooks, interactive learning modules, or platform-based content it’s essential to establish a repeatable testing workflow. This typically involves integrating accessibility checks into production pipelines, prioritizing high-visibility content, and continuously monitoring for issues as updates are made.

What are best practices for EAA compliance?

If you’re building a long-term content accessibility strategy, the best practices are your blueprint for sustainable compliance.

Here are key guidelines for 2025 and beyond:

1. Start with Accessible Design
Accessibility should be built into your design workflow. Use high-contrast colors, readable fonts, scalable text, and avoid flashing or timed content that may affect users with cognitive or visual impairments.

2. Structure Content with Semantic Tags
Use proper headings (<h1>, <h2>), alt text for images, and ARIA labels to help screen readers interpret the page correctly. 

3. Use EPUB 3 Standards for eBooks
EPUB 3 supports accessibility features such as reflowable text, navigation landmarks, and media overlays. It’s a recommended format for accessible publishing.

4. Implement Captioning and Transcripts
All video and audio content must have closed captions or transcripts to support deaf or hard-of-hearing users.

5. Offer Keyboard Navigation
Ensure users can navigate your entire platform or content using only a keyboard requirement for users with motor disabilities.

6. Test, Fix, and Repeat
Accessibility isn’t one-and-done. It’s a continuous process of testing, remediating, and retesting.

How can publishers test digital accessibility?

Testing for digital accessibility involves more than just running an automated checker. Publishers need a multi-layered approach:

1. Automated Testing
Use tools like axe, ARC, or WAVE to get an initial scan of common accessibility issues.

2. Manual Testing
Review keyboard navigation, alt text, reading order, and form labels manually. Automated tools can miss contextual issues.

3. Screen Reader Testing
Use screen readers like NVDA, JAWS (Windows), or VoiceOver (Mac/iOS) to test how content is interpreted audibly. It’s essential for ensuring usability, not just compliance.

4. User Testing with People with Disabilities
This is the gold standard. Nothing replaces real-world feedback from the users you’re trying to serve.

For publishers managing thousands of files, a testing workflow that combines automation and human expertise is essential for scale and accuracy.

What helps validate WCAG and EAA compliance?

Validating accessibility compliance requires a combination of technical checks, expert reviews, and user-centered testing. Robust validation processes look beyond surface-level errors to assess how well content performs for real users with disabilities. This includes checking structure, navigation, contrast, keyboard access, media alternatives, and screen reader compatibility.

Organizations aiming for consistent EAA compliance should invest in accessibility frameworks that support scalable auditing and remediation across file formats especially for complex content types like PDFs, web-based learning materials, and mobile applications. Integrating these validations into your overall digital publishing workflow ensures you’re not only meeting legal requirements but also fostering a more inclusive user experience.

Final thoughts: Accessibility is a competitive advantage

Post-2025, EAA compliance is about more than checking boxes, it’s about reaching every reader, shopper, and learner with equity and dignity. Publishers and retailers that embrace digital accessibility not only avoid legal risks but also unlock new audiences and markets.

If you’re starting late, don’t panic but don’t delay either. Begin with conducting a review of your existing assets, ranking top-visibility content, and identifying the appropriate accessibility testing tools with which to start.

At Lumina Datamatics, we support publishers and platforms in building accessible digital experiences from compliance audits and remediation to large-scale content transformation. With deep domain expertise and scalable solutions, we help you stay compliant while staying focused on your core mission. click here to learn more about our Accessibility Services.