Web Accessibility in 2025: What the Law Requires and How to Make Your WordPress Site Compliant

🔍 A New Era for Digital Accessibility

Starting June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (Directive EU 2019/882) will go into full effect. This new regulation requires many businesses to make their websites, apps, and digital services accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

If you manage a WordPress website, this guide will help you understand who is affected by the law, how to comply, and which tools you can use, with the professional support of AssistanceWP.it (WordPress helpdesk) and WP-Curve.com (managed cloud hosting for WordPress).

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📘 What Does the Law Say?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is based on the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, requiring that all digital content be:

• Perceivable – accessible by screen readers and assistive technologies

• Operable – easy to navigate with a keyboard

• Understandable – written in clear language with consistent layout

• Robust – compatible with current and future assistive technologies

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👥 Who Is Required to Comply?

The law applies to providers of the following digital products and services:

• E-commerce websites

• Mobile apps for commercial services

• Online booking platforms

• Online banking and insurance services

• Streaming services and e-book platforms

• Electronic communication providers

• Self-service terminals (e.g., ATMs, digital kiosks)

🔐 Legal Requirements for Companies

The accessibility requirement applies to any business that exceeds one of these thresholds:

More than 10 employees OR more than €2 million in annual turnover.

📌 This means small businesses and professionals may still be affected depending on their growth.

✅ What About Microenterprises?

The European Commission defines microenterprises as:

Businesses with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of €2 million or less (Recommendation 2003/361/EC).

👉 These microenterprises are exempt from legal compliance, but improving accessibility is still strongly recommended for SEO, usability, and customer trust.

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🧪 How to Check If Your Site Is Accessible

Start by conducting an accessibility audit. These free tools can help:

• WAVE Accessibility Tool

• Google Lighthouse (built into Chrome)

• Accessibility Checker (WordPress plugin)

Key elements to check:

• Contrast between text and background

• ALT tags for images

• Correct use of headings (H1, H2, etc.)

• Keyboard-only navigation

• Labels for forms and buttons

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🔧 How to Make Your WordPress Site Accessible

✅ Choose an accessible theme

Some recommended WCAG-compliant themes:

• Astra

• GeneratePress

• Neve

• Twenty Twenty-One (default WordPress theme)

🧩 Install accessibility plugins

• WP Accessibility
  Adds skip links, ARIA landmarks, form labels, and other features.

• One Click Accessibility
  Adds a floating toolbar to control contrast, font size, and other display options.

• Accessibility Checker (by Equalize Digital)
  Analyzes content and flags issues inside your WordPress dashboard.

• UserWay Accessibility Widget
  A visual interface with screen reader, contrast toggles, and text magnifiers.

✍️ Best practices to implement

• Use clean, legible fonts (at least 16px)

• Avoid text overlays on background images

• Provide descriptive ALT text for images

• Structure content with clear headings

• Ensure full functionality with keyboard navigation

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🛠️ Need Help? Get Expert Support

Making a site accessible can be technical. That’s where professional support comes in.

🔧 AssistanceWP.it

Get help with:

• Full accessibility audits

• Fixing issues in themes and plugins

• Consulting on accessibility best practices

☁️ WP-Curve.com

A managed cloud hosting service offering:

• WordPress-optimized infrastructure

• Compatibility with accessibility tools and plugins

• Dedicated resources and expert support

👉 Ideal for freelancers, bloggers, consultants, and growing businesses.

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📌 Summary: Do You Need to Comply?

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🎯 Final Thoughts: Accessibility Is an Opportunity

Even if your site isn’t legally required to comply yet, web accessibility is the future. Adopting it today means:

• Reaching a wider audience

• Improving SEO and site usability

• Staying ahead of future regulations

Don’t wait until it’s mandatory — start now and make your WordPress site more inclusive, efficient, and professional.

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💬 Want a Free Accessibility Review?

Get in touch via AssistanceWP.it for a personalized consultation, or visit WP-Curve.com to explore our fully managed WordPress hosting solutions built with accessibility in mind.

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🔗 Useful Links

• 🔹 AssistanceWP.it – WordPress Support Services

• 🔹 WP-Curve.com – Managed Cloud Hosting for WordPress

• 🔹 EU Directive 2019/882 – EUR-Lex

• 🔹 WCAG 2.1 Guidelines – W3C

• 🔹 Microenterprise Definition – EC Recommendation 2003/361/EC