How Google is approaching the European Accessibility Act (EAA): Video interview
Kelly Chan | 09 Jul 2024The European Accessibility Act (EAA) aims to ensure a wide range of products and services are accessible to disabled people, setting unified accessibility standards for computers, smartphones, banking services, e-books, e-commerce platforms and many services and products. EU member states will start checking for compliance on June 28, 2025, posing a challenge for organisations to meet new standards and embed best practice to avoid legal risks.
In July 2024 we spoke with Christopher Patnoe, the Head of EMEA Accessibility and Disability Inclusion about how Google is gearing up to meet the EAA’s requirements, ensuring their products remain accessible and compliant across Europe.
This was recorded as part of our recent webinar "European Accessibility Act: One year to go - are you ready?"
Video recording: How Google is approaching the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
Watch the full recording with Christopher and read his top tips below.
Top tips for navigating the European Accessibility Act
- Engage early with legal teams: Ensure you understand the EU’s definition of a product, which may differ from your initial perceptions. This helps clarify the scope and prevents surprises later on.
- Evaluate ROI with risk assessment: When discussing accessibility with middle management, provide a clear analysis of the risks, their likelihood, and severity. Collaborate with legal teams to prioritise features realistically.
- Understand different standards: Don’t assume Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliance equals EN 301 549 compliance. Identify and address the specific gaps in your product according to EN 301 549.
- Leverage corporate culture: Use existing training programs to educate employees about new legislation. Ensure timely updates to keep all teams informed.
- Conduct scoping exercises: Start with a scoping exercise to understand the extent of the work required. This helps secure commitments and lays the groundwork for effective implementation.
- Foster cross-functional collaboration: Create a common understanding and shared language about accessibility across the company. Allow individual product teams to adapt guidelines to their specific contexts.
Video recording: How Google are approaching the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
Watch the full recording with Christopher on how Google are approaching the EAA below:
Find out more
- Find more information online at the Accessible EU Centre website
