Explain to me in simple terms the European Accessibility Act and its impact for designers

What it is - The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU law adopted in 2019 that sets common accessibility requirements for certain products and services sold across EU member states. Its goal is to make everyday digital and physical goods more accessible to people with disabilities. Who and what it covers - Applies to businesses and public sector organizations supplying covered products/services in the EU. - Key product/service categories include: computers and operating systems, ATMs and ticketing machines, telephones and smartphones, consumer banking, e-commerce, audiovisual media services, transport services, e-books, and more. - Small suppliers and some niche cases may have limited exemptions; member states implement the Directive into national law (deadline was 2025 for many provisions). Main designer-relevant requirements - Digital products and services must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with disabilities — similar to WCAG principles used for web content. - Non-digital products (e.g., self-service kiosks, ATMs) must be operable and usable by people with different abilities (clear controls, tactile/voice feedback, height/reach considerations). - Documentation and product support (manuals, customer service) must also be accessible (easy-to-read formats, accessible communication channels). Impact on designers - Design earlier for accessibility: requirements apply to product features, interfaces, packaging, documentation, and support—so accessibility must be integrated from concept, not bolted on later. - Use recognized standards: following standards like WCAG 2.1/2.2 for digital interfaces and EN accessibility norms helps ensure compliance. - Broaden user research: include people with varied disabilities in testing (visual, auditory, motor, cognitive) to catch real-world barriers. - Cross-discipline coordination: accessibility affects UX, UI, physical ergonomics, hardware layout, firmware, and customer service—designers must collaborate with engineers, product managers, and legal. - Risk and cost: noncompliance can lead to market access blocks, fines, or required retrofitting—early design investment reduces risk and long-term costs. - Competitive and ethical benefits: accessible products reach more users, improve usability for everyone, and fulfill social responsibility. Practical starting points for designers - Adopt WCAG for digital products (aim at least AA where applicable). - Build accessibility checks into design reviews and QA. - Include accessibility criteria in procurement and vendor evaluation. - Create accessible documentation templates and train customer support. - Conduct usability testing with people with disabilities. Useful references - Directive (EU) 2019/882 text: EUR-Lex — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/882/oj - European Commission overview of the EAA: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1202 - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/ If you want, I can summarize concrete checklist items designers can use during product development.