The European Accessibility Act: What North American Health Nonprofits Need to Know

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) officially came into force on June 28, 2025, and it’s already reshaping how digital services are delivered across the EU.

While this may feel like “Europe’s issue,” it could very well apply to your North American nonprofit, especially if you offer online content or services that people in the EU can access.

In this article, we’ll walk through what the EAA means for North American health nonprofits, how to tell if it applies to you, and what steps you can take if it does.

Our goal is to help you stay informed, make smart decisions, and continue delivering your mission in a way that’s accessible to everyone.

1. What Is the European Accessibility Act?

At its core, the EAA is a law designed to make sure digital products and services in the EU are usable by people with disabilities. It focuses on making things clear, usable, and inclusive across websites, mobile apps, and other digital platforms.

• Effective Date: June 28, 2025
• Applies To: Any organization (even outside the EU) that offers certain types of digital services or products to EU users

Examples of what’s covered:

• Online stores or donation platforms
• E-books and digital publications
• Telecom services
• Streaming or video content
• Travel booking sites or mobile apps
• Online banking or financial tools

Each EU country enforces this law locally, and noncompliance can lead to fines, legal issues, or damaged reputation.

2. Does It Apply to Us?

Here’s the key: If people in the EU can access your digital tools or services, and those tools fall into one of the covered categories, then yes, the EAA likely applies.

Your nonprofit status doesn’t automatically exclude you. The law looks at whether you’re serving EU-based individuals, not where you’re based or how you’re structured.

A few examples:

• You offer downloadable health guides or online learning tools that EU users can access
• You have a donation form that accepts EU visitors
• You sell merchandise or event tickets and ship to EU countries

Even if you’ve never marketed to Europe, the global nature of the web means your digital presence may already reach EU audiences.

3. When You Probably Don’t Need to Worry

Some organizations can safely set the EAA aside (at least for now). Here’s when that might apply:

You’re a small nonprofit

If your organization has fewer than 10 employees and under €2 million in annual revenue, and you’re providing services (not selling physical goods), you’re exempt by law. That said, it’s still a good idea to follow accessibility best practices.

You don’t serve the EU at all

If you’ve never interacted with EU users and don’t plan to, you’re likely outside the EAA’s reach. Just make sure your web presence doesn’t accidentally welcome EU users (like offering international shipping or EU-friendly payment options).

Your content isn’t interactive

If your site is essentially a digital brochure (no forms, downloads, chat, or login), then you may be considered “out of scope.”

Your content is old and unedited

Any videos, PDFs, or pages published before June 28, 2025 that haven’t been updated since are considered “archived” and don’t need to be retrofitted.

4. Quick Checklist: Are We Affected?

Run through these questions to get a better idea of your situation:

1. Do we provide digital services (e.g. e-commerce, downloads, apps) that EU users can access?
2. Do people in the EU visit our site, use our tools, or sign up for our programs?
3. Do we offer interactive features (forms, downloads, chat, logins, etc.)?
4. Do we have 10 or more employees or a budget over €2 million?
5. Have we published or updated digital content since June 28, 2025?
6. Do we have any presence (staff, office, or legal registration) in the EU?

If you answered Yes to several of these, it’s smart to assume the EAA applies and take steps to meet its requirements.

5. What to Do If You’re In Scope

Here’s a straightforward starting point if you think the EAA applies to your nonprofit:

• Audit your digital platforms: Look at your website, apps, and digital materials for accessibility gaps
• Follow the standards: Aim to meet EN 301 549, which is aligned with WCAG 2.1 AA (a widely accepted accessibility standard)
• Add an accessibility statement to your site and set up a feedback channel
• Talk with your team and vendors to make sure everyone is on the same page

Even if this feels like one more thing on your plate, improving accessibility helps you reach more people, including the millions in Europe (and globally) living with disabilities.

6. Wrapping It Up

The EAA is here, it’s active, and for many North American health nonprofits, it’s relevant right now. If your digital reach extends to Europe, even just a little, now’s the time to check your exposure and get ahead of any potential risks.

Think of accessibility not just as a legal checkbox, but as part of your mission. Making your digital tools easier to use isn’t just smart. It’s the right thing to do.

Helpful Resources

• EAA Overview – European Commission
• Accessible EU Centre
• UsableNet: Compliance for Non-EU Orgs
• Deque: Top 20 EAA Questions
• ReciteMe: EAA and U.S. Nonprofits

About the Author

This guide was written by Spencer Brooks, founder of Brooks Digital, a digital agency that partners with health-focused nonprofits to make confusing websites clear, credible, and easy to manage. Spencer specializes in guiding nonprofit teams through practical improvements that make their digital platforms easier to manage and more mission-aligned. You can reach him at spencer@brooks.digital.