Why it matters now
The European Accessibility Act has applied since 28 June 2025 to a range of consumer services, including online shops, banking and ticketing. In France it sits alongside the RGAA, the national reference framework that public bodies already follow. Small and micro businesses are partly exempt, but customers do not check headcount before they leave an inaccessible checkout.
What the standard looks at
- Perceivable: text alternatives for images, enough contrast and captions for video
- Operable: everything works with a keyboard and has a visible focus
- Understandable: clear labels, helpful error messages and consistent navigation
- Robust: clean code that works with screen readers
Where sites usually fail
Common problems are low-contrast grey text, icon-only buttons without a label, forms where errors appear only as a colour change, pop-ups that trap the keyboard and videos without subtitles. Most can be fixed inexpensively when found during design rather than after launch.
The accessibility statement
Covered organisations publish a declaration d’accessibilité that states the level of compliance, known gaps and a contact for reports. Writing it honestly is better than claiming full compliance.
A practical start
- Run an automated scan, then test with the keyboard only
- Try the main purchase flow with a screen reader
- Fix contrast and labels first, then forms and media
- Add accessibility to the checklist for every new feature