If you’re diving into the world of digital accessibility, you’ve likely encountered a confusing alphabet soup of standards and regulations. Let’s break down four major ones—WCAG, the ADA, the EAA, and EN 301 549—in simple terms to help you understand what they mean for your website or digital service.
WCAG: The Global Standard
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are essentially the gold standard for web accessibility worldwide. Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG provides specific, technical criteria to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities.
WCAG is organized around four key principles that accessible content should be:
- Perceivable: Information must be presentable in ways all users can perceive
- Operable: User interface components must be navigable by everyone
- Understandable: Information and operation must be understandable
- Robust: Content must be robust enough to work with various technologies
Each guideline has three conformance levels: A (minimum), AA (standard), and AAA (enhanced).
ADA: America’s Landmark Civil Rights Law
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. Unlike the other standards we’ve discussed, the ADA predates the modern web and doesn’t contain specific technical requirements for digital accessibility.
However, courts have consistently interpreted Title III of the ADA (which covers “places of public accommodation”) to include websites and digital services. This means U.S. businesses with websites must make them accessible to people with disabilities, but the law itself doesn’t specify exactly how.
This is where WCAG enters the picture—while not explicitly named in the ADA, WCAG 2.0 or 2.1 Level AA has become the de facto standard used by courts to determine ADA compliance for websites. The Department of Justice, which enforces the ADA, has repeatedly referenced WCAG in settlements and guidance documents.
For U.S. businesses, ADA compliance is essential as non-compliance can lead to lawsuits, with thousands filed each year.
EAA: Europe’s Accessibility Law
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) takes a different approach. Unlike WCAG, the EAA is actual legislation passed by the European Union in 2019. It focuses on making products and services accessible throughout the EU market.
The EAA covers:
- Computers and operating systems
- ATMs and banking services
- Smartphones
- TV equipment related to digital television services
- E-books
- E-commerce services
While WCAG deals specifically with web content, the EAA has a broader scope covering both digital and physical products and services. The EAA gives companies until 2025 to ensure their offerings comply.
EN 301 549: Europe’s Technical Standard
EN 301 549 bridges the gap between broad legislation and technical specifications. It’s a European standard that defines accessibility requirements for ICT (Information and Communication Technology) products and services.
What’s interesting about EN 301 549 is that it directly incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA for web content but extends beyond websites to cover:
- Documents
- Software
- Hardware
- Mobile applications
This standard serves as the technical basis for public procurement of accessible technology in Europe and has been updated several times to stay current.
How They Work Together
Think of these four standards as complementary pieces:
- WCAG provides detailed technical guidance on making web content accessible
- ADA establishes legal requirements for accessibility in the United States without specifying technical standards
- EAA establishes legal requirements for accessibility in the European market
- EN 301 549 expands WCAG’s principles to non-web ICT products and provides technical specifications for EAA compliance
For most organizations, complying with WCAG 2.1 Level AA is a solid starting point that will help meet many requirements across these standards. U.S. companies should pay special attention to ADA compliance, while businesses operating in Europe need to address EAA and EN 301 549 requirements.
Remember: accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about creating digital experiences that everyone can use, regardless of ability. These standards provide the roadmap to get there.
Need help navigating these accessibility standards? Contact us with your questions!