Digital accessibility is no longer optional. With the introduction of the European Accessibility Act (EAA), training providers and learning organisations are expected to make their digital learning environments more inclusive. For many organisations this raises questions. What does this law actually involve, what impact does it have on e learning, and how can you prepare?
This legislation offers more than obligations alone. It is a clear opportunity to innovate your training offering and reach a wider audience. In this article we explain what the EAA entails and how you can manage this transition smoothly and efficiently.
The European Accessibility Act is a European directive designed to make products and services more accessible to people with disabilities. The law aligns accessibility rules across all European Union member states. As a result, people with visual, auditory or motor impairments, as well as older users, can independently use digital services such as websites, webshops, payment terminals and e books.
The law was adopted in 2019. All 27 EU member states were required to transpose the directive into national legislation by 2023. Enforcement starts on 28 June 2025. From that date, new products and services must comply with accessibility requirements.
For the digital domain this means that websites, apps and documents must comply with the EN 301 549 standard. This technical standard is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines WCAG and forms the foundation for EAA compliance.
If you work as a corporate trainer, e learning developer or training agency, the EAA directly affects how you deliver content. The law applies to services offered to consumers, which includes e commerce services.
Although the legislation primarily targets consumer products, its impact extends into the B2B market and internal corporate environments. Many Learning Management Systems and e learning modules are considered digital services or software. In practice this means that your digital learning environment and its content must be usable by everyone.
This includes learners who:
To comply with the EAA, your digital products and services must meet specific functional performance requirements. For training providers the main focus areas are threefold.
Your e learning modules SCORM xAPI or LTI must be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. This includes:
Not everyone uses a mouse. Learners must be able to navigate your modules and LMS entirely via keyboard. Ensure a logical focus order and clearly marked interactive elements such as buttons and input fields.
Software must work well with assistive technologies. If you use a tool like Linqur to distribute content across multiple LMS platforms, it is essential that accessibility features are preserved throughout the process. The EN 301 549 standard defines how software should communicate with assistive tools such as braille displays and speech software.
This may sound like a significant administrative and technical burden, but the EAA also creates opportunities. Accessibility and usability reinforce each other. Training that is accessible is often more pleasant for everyone.
The June 2025 deadline is approaching quickly. Below is a practical step by step approach that does not require deep technical expertise.
Take a critical look at your existing e learning library. Which modules include videos without subtitles? Where is colour used as the only way to convey information, for example click the red button? Create a clear list of priorities.
Work closely with your authoring tools and LMS providers. Do they support the latest standards? Ensure your standard templates for new training are accessible by design. This saves considerable effort later.
Managing accessible content across multiple LMS platforms can become complicated. If you discover an accessibility issue in a module used by ten different clients, you want to fix it in one place.
A tool like Linqur can support this by acting as a central hub. You host your accessible content in one location and distribute it via SCORM or LTI to clients. Updates are applied centrally and become immediately visible everywhere. This saves time and reduces the risk of outdated non accessible versions.
Ensure instructional designers and content creators understand why and how to build accessible content. Awareness is the first step toward an inclusive culture.
If you want to explore the guidelines in more detail, the following resources provide useful information:
The European Accessibility Act represents a move toward a digital world where everyone can participate. For training providers this means shifting from reactive fixes to proactive inclusive design.
By starting preparations now you avoid last minute stress before June 2026. You also position yourself as a forward thinking partner that values quality and inclusion. With the right tools and a structured approach, compliance is achievable, cost efficient and valuable for all learners.
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