More accessible products and services – how to get there

At the end of June, the new European Accessibility Act comes into force in Latvia, requiring manufacturing, retail, and service companies to make significant adjustments to the channels used for consumer communication. The primary goal of the directive is to make goods and services more accessible to all potential customers, including those with physical, mental, or intellectual disabilities.

Information accessible to all

To implement the requirements of the directive, the Goods and Services Accessibility Law adopted a year ago will come into effect on June 28, stipulating that only accessible goods and services may be distributed and provided in specified sectors. Specifically, these must be perceivable through more than one sensory channel.

The requirements will apply to self-service terminals, financial services, large online stores, passenger transport, electronic communication services, and other sectors[1].

Accessibility requirements mandate that e-commerce websites and applications must be accessible to all users, including those who use assistive technologies. Information must be clear, easy to perceive, and available in various formats. Text must be of an appropriate size and have sufficient contrast so that it can be read by people with low vision. Crucially, these requirements also apply to information provided on the product itself, in instructions, and on websites and mobile applications associated with the product or service.

Assess and prepare in time

The requirements listed in the law clearly indicate that businesses will need to work significantly on improving content accessibility, which will require additional expenditure. To gain an understanding of the necessary improvements and reduce costs, various digital tools can be used to help adapt to the new requirements.

One of the first tools that can be used for an initial assessment of the situation is the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool . By entering any website address on this site, a general overview of its accessibility is generated. The tool identifies errors in the website structure, including empty headings and broken links, and warns about hard-to-read text and insufficient contrast on the page. WAVE can also be used as a web browser extension, which will evaluate the site directly from the perspective of that browser.

A similar assessment is offered by the Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browser extension axe DevTools This free extension is particularly useful when building new websites or their sections. By clicking the audit icon, axeDevTools performs a thorough accessibility analysis and highlights potential issues. It is tough but fair, immediately identifying all non-compliance issues and leaving no room for doubt. By following the tool's recommendations, you can avoid the need for later revisions.

Once issues are identified, a solution is needed. At least in part, this is offered by the NVDA screen reader, which allows you to check how a website is perceived by users with visual impairments and make improvements. This downloadable free software was developed by people with visual impairments, so it truly performs its function. It is compatible with popular browsers, email platforms, office software, and even music players. NVDA suggests how to change font styles and sizes to make them easier to read for people with low vision. The tool can also convert text to speech in at least 55 languages and read aloud text hovered over by a cursor or a finger on a touchscreen. It also reads text from PDF documents and infographics.

Products themselves must also be adapted

It should be noted that the new accessibility requirements extend far beyond websites, covering a wide range of products, services, and communication channels. Goods must be designed and manufactured so that they can be used by as many people with disabilities as possible[2]. This means that user interfaces must provide functionality and features that allow the product to be accessed, perceived, used, understood, and controlled.

Furthermore, the product must prevent photosensitive seizures, protect user privacy, offer alternatives to biometric identification, and ensure functional consistency and flexible interaction time. Self-service terminals must provide text-to-speech technology, allow the use of personal headphones, warn the user via more than one sensory channel if a response is required within a certain time, provide the option to extend the available time, ensure adequate contrast and tactilely distinguishable keys and controls, and be compatible with assistive listening technologies.

Packaging and information on packaging must be accessible, including information on opening, closing, use, and disposal, as well as information regarding the product's accessibility features.

If a company fails to meet the requirements, supervisory authorities will first encourage voluntary correction of the non-compliance within a specified period. If this is not done, fines of up to 10,000 euros may be imposed[3].

[1] Law on the Accessibility of Goods and Services. Article 3. Scope of the Law.

[2] Law on the Accessibility of Goods and Services. Article 6. Obligations of the Manufacturer.

[3] Administrative Procedure Law. Article 370. Coercive fine imposed on the addressee