Accessibility by design: Why inclusive products and services matter now

By 28 June 2025, a major shift occured: all relevant products and services made available in the EU must meet specific accessibility requirements, as defined by the European Accessibility Act (EAA).

This isn’t just about new rules for companies — it’s a wake-up call for anyone involved in design, technology, or service delivery. Why? Because accessibility, once a specialised concern, is now a fundamental expectation for digital and physical experiences.

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Why Accessibility Matters — For Everyone

Accessibility isn’t about ticking regulatory boxes — it’s about making sure everyone can participate in society, regardless of ability, age, or circumstance. With populations aging worldwide and an estimated 1 in 6 people living with some form of disability, accessible design isn’t niche: it’s mainstream [3, p. 10].

Consider this:

• Ramps help not only wheelchair users, but parents with strollers, travelers with luggage, and delivery workers.
• Captions on videos assist not just those who are deaf, but also people in noisy environments or learning new languages.
• Voice interfaces, such as those on smartphones, benefit users who are blind, multitasking, or have temporary injuries.

These are all cases of “universal design” — creating products, services, and environments usable by as many people as possible, from the start.

As a participant in a large consultation noted, “Improving access to goods and services means disabled people automatically have a stronger involvement in