Alignment with the European Accessibility Act - Identifying and tracking additions and changes required
For ease of cross-checking, Snippet $11 includes the EAA index, with links to the online version of the EAA.
Products and Services to which the EAA applies
The linked pdfs list the products and services to be addressed under Mandate M/587. They represent the current consensus of how well the product or service types are covered by the latest draft of EN 301 549.
The products and services referred to in Article 2(1) of Directive (EU) 2019/882, for which requested harmonised standards can support the high level of accessibility that should be ensured, as set in its article 4, are shown in the following table: Products_and_services_in_scope.pdf
In line with feedback received from European Publishers and confirmed by representative organizations of persons with disabilities referring to the availability of EPUB accessibility technical specifications under W3C e-books and dedicated software should be excluded from this request. NOTE: The EAA added ebooks to the above list.
This Directive does not apply to the following content of websites and mobile applications:
- pre-recorded time-based media published before 28 June 2025;
- office file formats published before 28 June 2025;
- online maps and mapping services, if essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner for maps intended for navigational use;
- third-party content that is neither funded, developed by, or under the control of, the economic operator concerned;
- content of websites and mobile applications qualifying as archives, meaning that they only contain content that is not updated or edited after 28 June 2025.
The accessibility requirements of this Directive should be aligned to the requirements of Web accessibility Directive (EU) 2016/2102, despite differences, for example, in monitoring, reporting and enforcement.
NOTE: The Products_and_services_in_scope.pdf makes reference to The Audiovisual Media Services Directive
Detailed requirement
Annex I Section 1 2. User interface and functionality design requires the standard to cover the points identified in the UI_and_functionality_design.pdf document which will identify clauses in the EN cover that address the requirements and identify issues to be raised:
General accessibility requirements related to all products covered by this directive in accordance with Article 2(1)
2. User interface and functionality design:
General accessibility requirements related to all services covered by this Directive in accordance with Article 2(2)
The provision of services in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with disabilities, shall be achieved by:
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(a) ensuring the accessibility of the products used in the provision of the service, in accordance with Section I of this Annex and, where applicable, Section II thereof; Will be achieved by default
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(b) providing information about the functioning of the service, and where products are used in the provision of the service, its link to these products as well as information about their accessibility characteristics and interoperability with assistive devices and facilities: Achieved by: [ ]
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(i) making the information available via more than one sensory channel; Achieved by: [ ]
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(ii) presenting the information in an understandable way; Achieved by: [ ]
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(iii) presenting the information to users in ways they can perceive; Achieved by: [ ]
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(iv) making the information content available in text formats that can be used to generate alternative assistive formats to be presented in different ways by the users and via more than one sensory channel; Achieved by: [ ]
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(v) presenting in fonts of adequate size and suitable shape, taking into account foreseeable conditions of use and using sufficient contrast, as well as adjustable spacing between letters, lines and paragraphs; Achieved by: [ ]
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(vi) supplementing any non-textual content with an alternative presentation of that content; and Achieved by: [ ]
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(vii) providing electronic information needed in the provision of the service in a consistent and adequate way by making it perceivable, operable, understandable and robust; Achieved by: [ ]
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(c) making websites, including the related online applications, and mobile device-based services, including mobile applications, accessible in a consistent and adequate way by making them perceivable, operable, understandable and robust; Achieved by: [ ]
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(d) where available, support services (help desks, call centres, technical support, relay services and training services) providing information on the accessibility of the service and its compatibility with assistive technologies, in accessible modes of communication. Achieved by: [ ]
Section IV
Additional accessibility requirements related to specific services
The provision of services in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with disabilities, shall be achieved by including functions, practices, policies and procedures and alterations in the operation of the service targeted to address the needs of persons with disabilities and ensure interoperability with assistive technologies as shown in the following table: Specific_services.pdf
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(f) E-books (copyright etc. issues in Directive (EU) 2017/1563 and Directive (EU) 2017/1564):-
(i) ensuring that, when an e-book contains audio in addition to text, it then provides synchronised text and audio; -
(ii) ensuring that e-book digital files do not prevent assistive technology from operating properly; -
(iii) ensuring access to the content, the navigation of the file content and layout including dynamic layout, the provision of the structure, flexibility and choice in the presentation of the content; -
(iv) allowing alternative renditions of the content and its interoperability with a variety of assistive technologies, in such a way that it is perceivable, understandable, operable and robust; -
(v) making them discoverable by providing information through metadata about their accessibility features; -
(vi) ensuring that digital rights management measures do not block accessibility features. Achieved by: [ ]
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