Document Accessibility: A key issue with the European Accessibility Act

Mar 7, 2025 | Blog Post

Document Accessibiility

A key imperative for successful digital inclusion – Are your documents truly accessible to everyone?

Digital accessibility is becoming an essential topic, and with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into effect on June 28, 2025, businesses and public institutions will need to ensure their digital documents are accessible to people with disabilities. This applies to various sectors such as finance, e-commerce, education, and public services. 

But what does this really mean? What are the impacts for businesses? And most importantly, how can they ensure compliance effectively? 

Document Accessibility: more than a legal obligation 

The European Accessibility Act sets strict standards to ensure that all users, including those who rely on assistive technologies (screen readers, voice navigation, etc.), can access and interact with digital documents. Compliance isn’t just about following regulations, it’s about improving user experience and promoting inclusivity for everyone, regardless of their abilities. 

Key requirements include: 

  • Well-structured documents to be readable by screen readers. 
  • Text alternatives for images, graphics, and diagrams. 
  • Smooth navigation with clear headings, explicit links, and an interactive table of contents. 
  • Optimized layout: sufficient contrast, readable fonts, and adaptability for magnification. 
  • Compatibility with accessibility standards such as PDF/UA for PDFs and best practices for Word and OpenDocument formats. 

SmartDigiDocs: generating 100% accessible documents 

At SmartDigiDocs, we take these challenges seriously. With release 8.3, our solution now ensures full compliance with the European Accessibility Act. 

With advanced features, you can:  

  • Automatically generate PDFs compliant with the PDF/UA standard. 
  • Create Word and OpenDocument files with an optimized structure for assistive technologies. 
  • Ensure smooth navigation through well-structured headings and complete metadata. 
  • Easily add alternative text to images and graphics. 
  • Verify document compliance before distribution. 

    Prepare for compliance now   

    June 28, 2025, may seem far away, but adapting your processes now is crucial to avoid delays or non-compliance. Document accessibility should not be seen as a constraint but as an opportunity to enhance inclusivity and user experience. 

    With SmartDigiDocs, you’re ready to meet this challenge with ease. 

    Want to learn more or test our solution? Contact us today!