A customer should be able to choose a product, book an appointment or complete a payment independently. When a form cannot be used with a keyboard, or a payment error is never announced to a screen reader, that opportunity disappears.
That is why ShapeA11y exists: to help teams turn accessibility requirements into working software, review the result and preserve access as their products change. AI is one part of that work. The responsibility belongs to the organisation delivering the service, whatever tools it uses.
The European Accessibility Act already applies
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) began applying on 28 June 2025 through national implementing laws. It covers specified products and consumer services, including e-commerce, consumer banking, e-books and certain transport services. A business outside the EU can also fall within scope when supplying covered products or services in the EU. European Commission announcement, EUR-Lex overview.
Scope matters. This is not a blanket requirement for every website. Microenterprises providing services are exempt: the directive defines these as enterprises with fewer than ten people and annual turnover or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding €2 million. Specific transitional provisions and exceptions also apply; they are not a general extension of the deadline for every existing website. Directive 2019/882, Articles 2–4, 14 and 32.
For covered businesses, non-compliance can lead to enforcement and penalties under the relevant country's law. There is no single EU-wide fine to quote: Member States determine penalties, which must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Businesses need to identify their applicable national rules as well as the services they provide. Article 30.
UK businesses already have accessibility duties
In Great Britain, the Equality Act 2010 requires service providers to anticipate barriers and make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. These duties are relevant to services delivered online. Northern Ireland has a separate framework under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Government guidance for service providers, UK accessibility guidance.
Failure to meet Equality Act duties can result in civil proceedings. Available remedies include compensation, including for injury to feelings, and court orders. This is different from describing every inaccessible website as attracting an automatic regulatory fine. Equality Act explanatory notes, section 119 (PDF).
UK public sector bodies also have specific duties under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018. Government guidance calls for WCAG 2.2 AA and an accessibility statement, subject to the regulations' scope and exemptions. These are public sector requirements, not a universal private-business rule; suppliers should understand the requirements of the service and contract they support. Government accessibility requirements.
US businesses face ADA obligations
The US Department of Justice's position is that Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to the online goods and services of businesses open to the public. The precise application to a particular website can depend on jurisdiction and circumstances. DOJ web accessibility guidance.
Private federal Title III claims can seek orders requiring changes and may involve attorney's fees; they do not themselves provide compensatory damages. DOJ enforcement can seek monetary relief and civil penalties. State laws can provide additional remedies. Those distinctions matter when discussing the financial consequences of inaccessible services. DOJ Title III technical assistance manual, enforcement provisions.
The cost reaches beyond enforcement
A blocked checkout can mean a lost purchase. An inaccessible booking journey can force a customer to ask someone else for help. An unresolved barrier can become support work, an urgent repair or a dispute.
These are practical business risks, not predictions of a particular fine or a promised return on investment. Accessibility work gives teams a way to investigate those risks before customers have to report them.
What ShapeA11y helps teams do
Start with the journeys people depend on. Review how customers navigate, understand controls, recover from errors and finish tasks. Turn findings into prioritised fixes, then check those journeys again as the software changes.
ShapeA11y's approach brings requirements, implementation and evidence into that ongoing work. Repeatable checks help identify some barriers; manual review, assistive-technology testing and participation by disabled people remain essential. Passing an automated check is not proof of legal compliance.
The useful outcome is a service more people can use, supported by clear records of what was tested, what was fixed and what still needs attention.
Explore an accessibility review.
For a practical starting point, read Make your business easier to access, including guidance for businesses in Northern Ireland.
Legislation reviewed on 20 September 2026. This article provides general information; applicability depends on your services, markets and circumstances.