On 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into force for digital content providers across the EU. It requires that eBooks, learning platforms, assessments, multimedia content, and other digital learning materials are accessible to people with disabilities.
Yet, research by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, as part of the APACE project, found that only 37.4% of European publishers have begun producing truly accessible eBooks (Fondazionelia). That means more than 60% of content providers may now be non-compliant—with serious implications for procurement, platform compatibility, and learner equity.
“Accessibility can’t be an afterthought or outsourced. Everyone must be aware of their part in the chain.”
Miguel Ángel Valero Duboy, Vice Chair of the European Joint Technical Board on eAccessibility
Inaccessible content is now more than a usability issue—it may disqualify your organisation from public procurement. This guide breaks down the legal and practical implications of the EAA and offers job-specific guidance for content teams.
Whether you’re a serious game developer, instructional designer, editor, or accessibility lead, this blog will help you prepare your learning content to meet the new legal and educational standard.
Contents
- What is the European Accessibility Act?
- How to Make eBooks EAA Compliant
- Making Written Educational Content Accessible
- Accessibility for Multimedia
- EAA Rules for Interactive eLearning Content
- Designing Accessible Assessments and Forms
- Why Compliance Protects Your Bottom Line
- Tools and Resources
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
What is the European Accessibility Act?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) aims to ensure that digital products and services are accessible across all EU member states. It applies to eBooks, eLearning platforms, digital assessments, video and audio content, and more.
According to the European Commission:
“The EAA aims to improve the functioning of the internal market for accessible products and services by removing barriers created by divergent rules….Accessibility should be achieved by the systematic removal and prevention of barriers, preferably through a universal design or “design for all” approach, which contributes to ensuring access for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.”
Even if your organisation is based outside the EU, the EAA applies if you serve EU-based learners or sell into European institutions. In fact, the EAA is rapidly becoming the global benchmark for digital accessibility. Designing with it in mind ensures you remain relevant and competitive—across sectors and markets.
For content providers, the implications are clear: accessibility must be embedded into all digital content, including learning materials, assessments, and multimedia experiences.
New to the European Accessibility Act?
Head to our introductory blog for a full overview of what the legislation means for eLearning providers and its guidance.
But if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and make your content compliant, stay right here—this guide is packed with practical steps, role-based checklists, and real-world examples to help your team take action.
“By designing content with accessibility in mind, we are encouraged to think more deeply about our audience and are therefore more likely to meet their needs.”
Suzi Payton, AuADHD speaker, coach and comedian
Case study: Nintendo Switch
ReadSpeaker provides a dedicated SDK for Nintendo Switch developers, enabling games to include high-quality, real-time text-to-speech directly on the console.
This allows developers to embed dynamic narration into game interfaces, menus, and in-game text—enhancing gameplay accessibility and immersion, especially for players who benefit from auditory support. The integration supports multiple languages and expressive voices, improving inclusion and global reach.
Making Written Educational Content Accessible: Blogs, Articles, and Learning Modules
Written content covers everything from articles and course pages to microlearning modules and guidance documents. In educational settings, this content often forms the backbone of curriculum delivery. If it’s not accessible, it risks excluding entire learner groups.
What the EAA says
Written content must comply with WCAG 2.1 AA standards, including:
- Clear, logical structure and navigation
- Descriptive headings and links
- High colour contrast and readable fonts
- Use of semantic markup
- Keyboard accessibility
“If a digital platform is essential for coursework—as recommended or used by an institution—then it must be accessible. That includes captions for videos, screen reader support, and keyboard-friendly navigation.”
Emiliano Díez Villoria, Professor of Psychology at the University of Salamanca and Director of the University Institute for Community Integration (INICO)
What to do
For writers:
- Use plain, clear language
- Apply appropriate headings (H1–H6)
- Break content into clearly labelled sections
Avoid vague link text like “click here”
For content strategists:
- Create editorial style guides for accessibility
- Standardise inclusive content patterns across teams
- Review copy for readability (aim for B1 CEFR level)
- Include guidance on inclusive language
For developers/QA:
- Validate with axe or WAVE tools
- Ensure logical tab order and keyboard access
- Use headings semantically (H1–H6 hierarchy)
- Test with EPUBCheck and WCAG validators
- Validate reading order and navigation manually
- Test using screen readers and voice controls
- Conduct usability testing with disabled users
- Highlight barriers related to navigation, labelling, focus, and interaction
“Accessibility demands a structural overhaul of workflows, not merely format conversion.”
Laia Planagumà, Associate Professor at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Case study: LTNC B.V.
LTNC B.V., a consultancy supporting organisations using Moodle LMS, wanted to produce consistent, multilingual instructional videos to meet the diverse needs of their learners. Manual narration was time-consuming and difficult to standardise—especially in Dutch, where pronunciation and dialect posed challenges.
By integrating ReadSpeaker’s SpeechMaker, LTNC B.V. quickly transformed written instructions into clear, natural-sounding speech, improving content clarity and saving time. The seamless integration meant they could focus on content creation, while learners benefited from more accessible and engaging resources.
How to Make eBooks EAA Compliant
eBooks remain a core format in education—from academic textbooks to corporate training manuals and public-sector documentation. They’re often used asynchronously, meaning learners rely on their structure and accessibility to navigate complex content independently.
From 28 June 2025, all eBooks sold or distributed within the EU must be accessible to people with visual, auditory, physical or cognitive disabilities.
What the EAA says
To be compliant, eBooks must:
- Use EPUB 3 or accessible HTML
- Provide logical structure and navigation
- Include text alternatives for all images
- Include accessibility metadata
- Include support for screen readers and assistive technologies
“We always design with a ‘standard’ user in mind. Then, when we adapt for accessibility, it feels like an afterthought. But accessibility should be baked in from the start. We need to rethink what a ‘book’ even is, and we should co-design content with people who have diverse needs.”
Emiliano Díez Villoria, Professor of Psychology at the University of Salamanca and Director of the University Institute for Community Integration (INICO)
What to do
For developers:
- Adopt EPUB 3, not PDF, as the default format
- Avoid DRM that blocks assistive technologies
- Ensure semantic HTML structure
For content writers/editors:
- Write meaningful alt text and image descriptions
- Use clear, structured headings
- Ensure language and metadata tags are present
“Almost every year, we have scenarios where we have a transfer student who does not speak English. Immediately, that teacher can show that student how to use the language tools in ReadSpeaker, and they can start accessing that material, and our teachers love it for that.”
Candice McPherson, Director of Design and Development at Virtual Arkansas
For QA teams:
- Test with EPUBCheck and WCAG validators
- Validate reading order and navigation manually
- Test using screen readers and voice controls
- Conduct usability testing with disabled users
- Highlight barriers related to navigation, labelling, focus, and interaction
Case study: Quality Matters
Quality Matters (QM), a global leader in online learning quality, created its guidelines to help institutions design accessible, effective courses that meet diverse learner needs.
By partnering with ReadSpeaker, QM enhanced its standards with integrated text-to-speech tools, supporting multimodal learning and helping educators deliver inclusive, high-quality experiences at scale.
Accessibility for Multimedia: Video, Audio, and Animations
Multimedia learning materials—like video lessons, narrated presentations, and podcasts—are essential in blended and online education. But when captions, transcripts, or accessible players are missing, these formats can become exclusionary.
What the EAA says
All multimedia must be perceivable and operable. This includes:
- Synchronised captions for video and audio
- Transcripts for spoken content
- Audio descriptions for visual elements
- Accessible media players
“If you’re publishing video content without subtitles you run the risk of excluding potential key audience members. Whether it’s someone watching a video on their phone without volume or a person who’s hard of hearing, subtitling should always be there as an option to allow for more accessibility.”
James Cook, Director/Video Producer at FOSTER Studios
What to do
For video/audio producers:
- Provide accurate, time-synced captions (SRT/VTT)
- Include full transcripts for podcasts and voiceover-led videos
- Add audio descriptions where needed
- Sync captions with spoken audio
For voiceover teams:
- Record clear, well-paced narration
- Avoid jargon or idioms without explanation
For developers:
- Use media players with keyboard and screen reader support
- Avoid auto-play without controls
- Provide transcript download options
“Many neurodivergent folks struggle with auditory processing; having closed captions/subtitles can aid processing and understanding.”
Suzi Payton, AuADHD speaker, coach and comedian
For editors and UX teams:
- Offer download links for transcripts
- Ensure playback speed and volume controls are accessible
Case study: Hello Kitty’s Room
Hello Kitty’s Room is a digital reading game for early readers. With ReadSpeaker, the team added seamless text-to-speech capabilities, allowing young players to listen to character dialogue and text passages.
This multimodal experience supported independent learning for children at different reading levels and with emerging literacy needs.
EAA Rules for Interactive eLearning Content
From simulations to drag-and-drop exercises, interactivity is widely used in online learning to engage learners and reinforce concepts. But these formats are often inaccessible to users with motor or visual impairments without careful design.
What the EAA says
Interactive content must be operable and understandable for all users. This means it must not rely on mouse-only interaction, time-limited tasks, or complex gestures and therefore must:
- Be operable by keyboard
- Provide clear, accessible instructions
- Avoid relying solely on colour or motion
- Offer accessible alternatives for complex tasks
“The integration of ReadSpeaker SpeechMaker was seamless. We encountered no issues, and the tool was straightforward to use. This ease of implementation has allowed us to focus on content creation rather than troubleshooting.”
Gemma Lesterhuis, Owner of LTNC B.V. and Moodle LMS Specialist
What to do
For instructional designers:
- Design tasks with flexibility, simplicity and clarity in mind
- Avoid single-solution activities
- Offer text-based alternatives for visual tasks
- Provide text alternatives for visual content
- Ensure assessment feedback is screen reader-friendly
For UX designers:
- Offer clear visual cues
- Allow multiple ways to complete a task
- Avoid relying on colour alone
For developers:
- Use ARIA roles and semantic HTML
- Ensure tab order and focus visibility
- Provide screen reader labels for all controls
- Ensure all actions are keyboard operable
- Avoid inaccessible drag-and-drop interfaces
For testers:
- Evaluate interaction with keyboard only
- Test using screen readers and voice controls
- Test with EPUBCheck and WCAG validators
- Conduct usability testing with disabled users
- Highlight barriers related to navigation, labelling, focus, and interaction
Case study: Soft Leaf Studios
Soft Leaf Studios is an award-winning games studio specialising in accessible, story-driven experiences. Many of their players have different accessibility needs, including reading difficulties and low vision.
Working with ReadSpeaker, Soft Leaf Studios integrated text-to-speech directly into their games—offering real-time narration that could be triggered by players. This allowed learners to explore narrative-based content independently, improving access and engagement.
Designing Accessible Assessments and Forms
Assessments—from formative quizzes to formal exams—are used to measure learner progress and provide feedback. But inaccessible forms and testing formats can create barriers for learners with visual, cognitive, or physical disabilities.
What the EAA says
Forms and assessments must be understandable and accessible for screen reader users, keyboard users, and those with cognitive or visual impairments. This includes:
- Clear labels and structure
- Operability via keyboard and assistive tech
- Logical tab order
- Descriptive error messages
- Flexibility around time constraints
What to do
For developers:
- Use native HTML form elements
- Ensure labels are programmatically associated
- Allow sufficient time or provide pause/resume options
For QA teams:
- Run tests using keyboard only or voice controls
- Validate with assistive tech and screen readers
- Check error messaging for clarity
- Test with disabled users
- Ensure visual design is high contrast
- Test with EPUBCheck and WCAG validators
Case study: TP d’Avenir
TP d’Avenir is a French training organisation that supports employees and apprentices, many of whom lack formal qualifications, have limited digital skills, and face challenges with reading and comprehension.
Some learners do not speak French as a first language. With ReadSpeaker, TP d’Avenir was able to deploy accessible, multilingual training content that could be used by diverse learner groups across sectors.
The project was very well received and allowed the organisation to extend accessible learning solutions to other companies, meeting the needs of industries with highly multilingual workforces.
Why Compliance Protects Your Bottom Line
EU institutions, education providers, and public-sector organisations are now required to procure only accessible content. Non-compliance means more than just limiting learner access—it could mean losing business.
“Being accessible positions you ahead of the curve—especially in public procurement. You’ll be more competitive, more trusted, and better aligned with future global standards.”
Beth Havinga, Managing Director of the European EdTech Alliance
By aligning your content to the EAA, you ensure that your offerings remain eligible for procurement frameworks, funding calls, and strategic partnerships.
Final Thoughts
The EAA represents a shift—not just in regulation, but in mindset. Accessibility isn’t just a compliance obligation. It’s an opportunity to create content that reaches and resonates with every learner. Those who take the lead now will be best positioned to serve the needs of an increasingly inclusive and global learning community.
Want to make sure your content is compliant?
Contact our education team
Or explore our solutions for:
Tools and Resources
Here are some tools and libraries to help you get started:
- The European Accessibility Act
- WCAG 2.1 Quick Reference
- WAVE Accessibility Checker
- axe DevTools
- EPUBCheck validator
- ARIA Authoring Practices
Want further guidance from industry leaders on the EEA? Watch The European Accessibility Act and the Future of EdTech – What you need to know on demand now.
FAQs: Preparing for the EAA
Kelly Newcomb is an experienced marketing manager and DEI leader who has been working with tech for good brands for over a decade. She is an advocate for accessible technology, particularly in education and the workplace.
Over the past five years she’s lead inclusion programs at a range of growing tech companies and enjoys sharing new technologies and ways of working that helps level the playing field for everyone.
