Why Your Digital Product Should be Accessible and Meet WCAG 2.1 AA
Building an accessible digital product isn’t just a compliance task — it’s a competitive advantage. It’s building something that works for humans in real situations. With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) already in effect, accessibility matters more than ever. Here’s why meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards should be part of every product roadmap.
1. It’s the law in the EU — and not a soft suggestion.
Since June 2025, the European Accessibility Act requires most digital products to comply with accessibility standards. Only very small companies might escape the rule. And no, incorporating your business outside of EU won’t magically exempt you — if EU users can access your product, the law applies.
2. Global laws all point to WCAG anyway.
Whether it’s EAA, ADA in the US, AODA in Canada, or the UK’s Equality Act, almost every accessibility regulation references WCAG. Meeting WCAG AA means you’re aligning with the global standard — a single effort with multi-country impact.
3. WCAG 2.1 AA reflects modern best practices.
Contrast ratios, readable text, semantic HTML, keyboard navigation, proper labels, descriptive names, error prevention — these guidelines mirror good UX and clean development principles. It’s what any polished, user-friendly product should include.
4. Accessibility improves UX for everyone.
Clearer layouts, larger tap targets, better spacing, more predictable navigation — all users benefit. You’re not just helping a group of people; you’re smoothing out friction for your entire user base.
5. Disabilities aren’t always permanent.
Broken arms heal, concussions fade, noisy cafés happen, toddlers scream, sunlight blinds, eyes get tired after all day of screen. In many moments, every user becomes situationally or temporarily “disabled.” Accessibility ensures your product works in all real-life scenarios.
6. Poor accessibility = lost users.
If users can’t navigate, read, or operate your product, they’ll leave. Instantly. It’s the same effect as bad UX — except easier to fix. (And yes, WCAG really does recommend a minimum clickable area of 25×25px. Tiny icon-only buttons are not personality traits.)
7. Accessibility supports SEO.
Semantic markup, descriptive alt text, structured headings, meaningful structure, and clean code help search engines understand and index your content more effectively.
8. Inclusivity builds trust.
Accessible products build trust and credibility. A product that “just works” for everyone sends a clear message: your users matter. This leads to stronger brand reputation and happier teams.
9. Accessibility is cheaper to build in early.
Retrofitting after launch — or after a complaint — is like rewiring a house after the walls are painted. Painful, time-consuming, and expensive. Addressing WCAG issues during design or development costs far less than reworking an entire interface after complaints or audits.
10. There’s a clear, manageable path forward.
Start with an accessibility audit. Fix WCAG A issues first — they’re the structural basics. Then move to AA. AAA is great, but only necessary for very specific, high-accessibility scenarios. Train your dev team to start complying with basic requirements out of the box.