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        "rendered": "<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting June 28, 2025, the <strong>European Accessibility Act (EAA)<\/strong> will come into effect across Europe. This new legislation requires many companies to make their digital products and services \u2014 such as websites, apps, e-commerce platforms, and even ticketing systems \u2014 accessible to <em>all<\/em> users, including people with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accessibility is no longer a &#8220;nice-to-have.&#8221; It\u2019s becoming a <strong>legal requirement<\/strong> \u2014 and a <strong>competitive advantage<\/strong>. In this blog, we\u2019ll explain what the EAA entails, who it applies to, and how you can start preparing today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the EAA?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is EU legislation aimed at ensuring equal access to a range of products and services for people with disabilities. The law will significantly impact industries such as tech, e-commerce, transport, and financial services \u2014 and applies to both public and private organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Websites and webshops<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mobile apps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Payment terminals, kiosks, and ticketing systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Digital communication (e.g. PDFs, customer portals)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For us as a digital agency, this means every new or redesigned website will need to follow <strong>digital accessibility standards<\/strong>, specifically <a href=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/Translations\/WCAG21-nl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"the WCAG\">the <strong>WCAG<\/strong><\/a><strong> (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who needs to comply?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EAA applies to most businesses, with some key exceptions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SMEs with fewer than 10 employees, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An annual turnover under \u20ac2 million<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These businesses are exempt from the legal requirement \u2014 <em>but<\/em> even they are strongly encouraged to prioritize accessibility. Why? Beyond social responsibility, there are practical advantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Better SEO (search engine visibility)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improved access for elderly and mobile users<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased usability and higher conversions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if your website is already live?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key date: June 28, 2025.<\/strong><br>Is your website live <em>before<\/em> that date? Then a transition period applies until 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Products developed before that date get a 5-year grace period.<br>However, during this time, you&#8217;re still expected to <strong>make reasonable efforts<\/strong> to improve accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short: waiting until 2030 isn\u2019t a smart strategy. Even outside of legal pressure, you don\u2019t want to lose users because your website isn\u2019t inclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can you tell if your site is accessible?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accessibility is more than just adding alt-texts. The <strong>WCAG guidelines<\/strong> include things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Contrast and color usage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keyboard navigation (for users who don\u2019t use a mouse)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proper structure and semantics (titles, headers, buttons)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use of video, animation, and interactive elements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t worry \u2014 you don\u2019t have to figure this out alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Purple Panda can help<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a digital agency, we\u2019ve always focused on creating powerful, user-friendly websites. Now that accessibility is becoming a legal standard, we\u2019re here to take things even further:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Audit<\/strong> \u2013 We review your website using WCAG standards<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Solutions<\/strong> \u2013 We fix key issues like poor contrast or confusing navigation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Checklist &amp; Advice<\/strong> \u2013 We guide you with clear steps and actionable tips<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For larger projects, we partner with an accessibility expert within our group who conducts <strong>in-depth testing<\/strong> that goes beyond what online tools can offer \u2014 giving you complete peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why act now?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t wait until it\u2019s mandatory. By working on accessibility now, you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stay legally compliant<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Boost SEO and conversion rates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demonstrate social responsibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build a stronger, more inclusive brand<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Already have a website \u2014 or planning one soon? <a href=\"https:\/\/purplepanda.be\/en\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Contact\">Let&#8217;s get in contact<\/a>.<br>Let us know how we can help you get ready for 2025 \u2014 and more importantly, for <em>every<\/em> user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>",
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        "rendered": "<p>The European Accessibility Act (EAA) takes effect in June 2025 and will require many businesses to make their websites and digital services accessible to everyone \u2014 including people with disabilities. In this blog, we break down what the EAA means, who\u2019s affected, and how you can get your website WCAG-compliant in time.<\/p>",
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