It may surprise you to learn that 83 of these companies were sued, even though they were using a third-party accessibility widget. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets out guidance that businesses must follow to ensure accessibility and equal access to information, but without a strategic approach, many are falling short of acceptable compliance.
The UK will not be far behind. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) first passed in 2019, and came into force across the EU on 28 June 2025, to make information more accessible for 87 million citizens across the bloc. This act focuses on digital communications, and covers any company selling products or services in the EU – meaning UK companies need to consider alignment with the EAA as soon as possible.
Our work at The UX Agency brings us into contact with many organisations that have serious misconceptions about what accessibility really means. As I’ve written in earlier posts, accessibility is all around us, and goes beyond screen readers.
That’s why companies need to prioritise Inclusive Design today. By considering the diverse needs of customers and adopting inclusive practices, they can reach an untapped market and foster lasting customer loyalty. While screen readers have their place and are a good entry point, focusing solely on them forgets those with other issues – and with the implementation of the EAA, every business needs to start taking full compliance seriously.