Common Accessibility Laws and Compliance Standards

Digital accessibility ensures that websites, applications, documents, and other digital tools are usable by everyone — including people with disabilities. Around the world, various countries and regions have implemented legal guidelines and technical standards to ensure inclusion and usability. These standards address a range of digital experiences, from basic website navigation to more complex services such as ecommerce platforms, mobile applications, and digital forms.

Some of the most common accessibility frameworks include the European Accessibility Act (EAA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act, which reference the technical standards of EN 301 549 (the EU’s harmonized technical standard under EAA), and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). While their scopes and enforcement methods vary, they all intend to eliminate digital barriers and promote equitable access.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU directive adopted in 2019, designed to harmonize accessibility requirements across member states. Enforcement of the EAA began on June 28, 2025, the EAA covers a wide range of digital products and services, including websites, banking services, mobile apps, e-books, and e-commerce platforms.

The EAA requires digital content to meet specific accessibility criteria, the majority of which aligns with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Key features include ensuring compatibility with screen readers, offering keyboard navigation, and providing scalable text and adequate color contrast. While the directive sets broad goals, enforcement and penalties are left to the individual member states, which are required to impose effective, proportionate, and dissuasive measures.

Closely tied to the EAA is EN 301 549, the European technical standard for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) accessibility. It reflects WCAG 2.1 standards with some additional requirements for certain types of products and serves as a practical guide for achieving compliance with the EAA. For businesses operating in Europe, compliance with the EAA not only mitigates legal risk but also opens the door to broader markets through harmonized digital expectations.

Passed in 1990, The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is a U.S. civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability in areas like employment, transportation, and public accommodations. While it predates the internet as we know it, U.S. courts and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have interpreted the ADA to apply to digital spaces — particularly for websites and applications operated by businesses and public entities.

The ADA does not specify technical standards for digital accessibility, but the DOJ has consistently referenced WCAG as the best practice for compliance. In recent years, the number of ADA-related digital accessibility lawsuits has surged, with thousands of businesses facing legal challenges over inaccessible websites or mobile apps.

Because the ADA covers a broad range of industries and organizations, its digital implications are significant. Even though the law itself is not technology-specific, organizations aiming to meet ADA requirements should turn to WCAG for actionable guidance.

Section 508 is a federal law in the United States that mandates that all ICT used by federal agencies must be accessible to people with disabilities. Originally enacted in 1973 and amended in 1998, Section 508 applies to government websites, emails, PDFs, kiosks, and internal systems, as well as vendors that supply digital services to the government.

Unlike the ADA, Section 508 includes detailed technical requirements. These were refreshed in 2018 to align with WCAG 2.0 standards, making WCAG compliance a core part of federal accessibility efforts. Under Section 508, agencies must also document compliance in procurement and auditing processes.

Failure to meet Section 508 standards can lead to funding limitations, legal repercussions and reputational harm for federal agencies and their contractors. Technology providers must be Section 508 compliant to work with the U.S. government

Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are globally recognized technical standards, not laws. They offer highly detailed criteria for making digital content more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments.

The current versions of WCAG include:

• WCAG 2.0 (published in 2008), later formalized as an ISO standard (ISO/IEC 40500).
• WCAG 2.1, which added criteria related to mobile accessibility and cognitive disabilities.
• WCAG 2.2, finalized in 2023, adding nine additional success criteria.

These guidelines are structured around four key principles, often referred to as POUR, an acronym formed by taking the first letters of each word:

• Perceivable: Information must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive (e.g., text alternatives for images).
• Operable: Interface components must be usable with a keyboard and accessible to users with various input methods.
• Understandable: Content must be readable and predictable.
• Robust: Content must work reliably with current and future assistive technologies.

WCAG conformance levels are graded as A (basic), AA (intermediate), and AAA (highest). 

How WCAG helps meet legal standards

Although WCAG is not legally binding on its own, it forms the foundation for most accessibility legislation worldwide. Whether you’re complying with the ADA, Section 508, the EAA, or other national standards, WCAG provides the technical blueprint.

Organizations aiming for compliance typically focus on WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This level includes essential features like:

• Providing text alternatives for non-text content
• Ensuring sufficient color contrast
• Making all functionality accessible via keyboard
• Avoiding content that causes seizures (e.g., flashing)
• Using clear and consistent navigation and labels
• Providing error identification and instructions for correction

To implement WCAG, organizations should use a mix of automated tools (like Axe or WAVE), manual testing (with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation), and real user feedback from as broad a sample of people as possible – especially from people with disabilities. Embedding accessibility into design and development cycles ensures that digital experiences are inclusive from the ground up.

Understanding and applying accessibility standards isn’t just about legal compliance. It’s about creating inclusive, user-friendly experiences that benefit all users. Organizations that prioritize accessibility have a lot to gain:

• Legal and financial incentives: In the U.S., lawsuits under the ADA have surged, and non-compliance with Section 508 limits access to government contracts. In the EU, the EAA mandates compliance with penalties for non-adherence.
• Inclusive user experience design: Focusing on accessibility improves digital experiences and promotes product and service innovation which can lead to overall design improvement. Features like captions, alt text, voice to text and keyboard navigation are essential for people with disabilities but also help other users in various environments such as noisy or hands-free environments. Making digital products easier to perceive and interact with increases usability for everyone.
• Potential customer base: Accessibility can help you reach more people. Older users, people with situational limitations, and those using assistive technology all benefit. In an aging global population, accessibility becomes a long-term investment in user reach. Further, with an estimated 1.3 billion people in the world with significant disabilities, when you make experiences accessible, millions of friends and family of disabled people take notice. Which leads to…
• Reputation and trust: Brands that prioritize accessibility boost public perception, and for good reason. They demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and diversity, which resonates with socially conscious consumers and employees. In addition, accessibility can enhance technical aspects of digital properties such as search engine optimization (SEO) performance, improve design consistency, and more.

Digital accessibility is more than a compliance checklist—it’s a strategic imperative that has far reaching impact. Laws like the ADA, Section 508, and the EAA enforce accountability, while WCAG guides implementation. Of course, there are many more accessibility laws and policies. By embracing these standards, organizations can protect themselves legally, serve a broader audience, and create better digital products.

Successful organizations make accessibility part of their culture. They conduct audits, train teams, set clear standards, and involve users with disabilities throughout the product lifecycle. When accessibility becomes an interwoven part of design and development, organizations don’t just meet requirements, they lead the way in digital quality, usability, and innovation.