Digital accessibility: are you ready for the June 2025 law?

On June 28, 2025, a new regulation came into force in France and required many companies to make their digital products and services accessible. For the organizations concerned, the countdown is on. But beyond the legal constraint, it is an opportunity to include, to innovate... and to stand out.

20 years of evolution towards digital accessibility

The issue of digital accessibility is not new. In France, it is the Law of 11 February 2005 for equal rights and opportunities, which, for the first time, enshrined in law the obligation of accessibility of digital public services. This requirement first concerned the websites of the State and local authorities.

At European level, awareness has accelerated with the adoption of the European directive 2016/2102, which came into force in 2018. It requires public sector organizations to respect accessibility rules based on WCAG standards (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).

But it is especially the Directive 2019/882, say European Accessibility Act (EAA), which marks a turning point. It extends the obligations to certain private services, with a deadline set at June 2025 for its transposition in the Member States. France is complying with it through the future ordinance of June 28, 2025.

The objective is clear: to ensure that every European citizen, regardless of disability, can access essential digital services. This is part of a larger vision of a digital world. inclusive, sustainable and equitable.

This new legislative framework is therefore part of nearly 20 years of legal and societal changes, and responds to a growing need for accessibility in an increasingly digital society.

The private sector now concerned

So far, the laws ondigital accessibility were mainly perceived as an obligation burdening utilities. Administrations, public establishments and local authorities were the first to be concerned. This new law is profoundly changing the situation.

Starting from June 28, 2025, many companies in the private sector in France — in particular those offering digital services considered as essentials (banks, e-commerce, transport platforms, telecommunications, etc.) — will also have to comply with these requirements. This extension of the scope of application marks a turning point in the way in whichaccessibility is designed and integrated into the digital strategies of businesses.

This evolution underlines an increasingly shared conviction:accessibility should not be a privilege, but a fundamental right for all users, whether they are customers, employees or citizens. And it is becoming a key component of responsible digital transformation.

Which businesses are affected by this new law?

Affected are:

• Businesses with more than 10 employees, or with a turnover of more than 2 million euros;
• Les digital products and services intended for the general public, in particular:
  • Websites, mobile applications, e-commerce platforms;
  • Electronic products such as computers, smartphones, counters and terminals;
  • Banking, transport, telecommunications or audiovisual services.

Microenterprises are currently exempt.

What are the obligations?

Businesses will need to:

• Make their interfaces comply with accessibility standards (in particular the RGAA — General framework for improving accessibility).
• Publish a accessibility statement on each site or service.
• Develop a multi-year plan of accessibility.
• Implement a annual action plan.

Of financial sanctions are provided in case of non-compliance.

A constraint? No: an opportunity!

It would be a mistake to consider digital accessibility only as a legal formality to be completed. In reality, it is a An opportunity to sustainably change your digital practices.

Because accessibility benefits everyone

An accessible site is not only a site that can be used by a visually impaired person. It is a site:

• More readable on mobile.
• Better structured for SEO.
• More fluid for seniors, neurodivergent people, etc.

We often talk about inclusive design : by making a service more accessible, we improve Everyone's experience.

Because it is a performance driver

Accessibility reinforces:

• Your repute (especially as a responsible company),
• Your regulatory compliance (avoiding disputes and sanctions),
• Your ability to respond to public tenders,
• In some cases, your CSR indicators.

Addressing digital accessibility: a lifecycle approach

In its white paper, Ciao, a subsidiary of the Group IT Link specialized for nearly 15 years indigital accessibility, defends a strategic vision: accessibility should not be relegated to an end-of-project task or perceived as a simple regulatory constraint. It should be considered as a continuous life cycle, transversal, supported by all teams from the first phases of a digital project, and maintained sustainably.

This holistic approach is based on three main steps, which form the foundations of a structured and sustainable accessibility approach.

Step 1: Raise awareness and create a culture of accessibility

The first barrier is not technical: it is lack of awareness. Many businesses struggle to integrate accessibility because they do not understand the challenges or the concrete implications.

It is therefore essential to train stakeholders on:

• What is digital accessibility, beyond standards and acronyms.
• The user profiles concerned, whether they have visual, auditory, motor or cognitive limitations.
• The first accessible gestures, easy to implement as of today.

Within the IT Link Group, we offer short, concrete and operational formats to anchor a culture of accessibility in teams, regardless of their jobs: developers, designers, product owners, marketers...

Step 2: Integrate accessibility into each project phase

A common mistake is to think about accessibility as an afterthought. However, The sooner you act, the stronger the impact and the lower the costs. The aim is to integrate accessibility criteria as soon as:

• The functional specifications (e.g. keyboard navigation, text alternatives, navigation logic),
• The design (color contrast, font sizes, accessible UI components...),
• The development (compliance with HTML standards, ARIA labels, focus management...),
• The tests (manual tests, users with real disabilities).

The objective is clear: to make accessibility A business reflex, not an audit imposed at the last minute.

Step 3: Manage the approach and structure the governance

The success of an accessible project is based on clear management. This is not only a technical issue, but also organizational and strategic.

This involves:

• The designation of a accessibility referent (even non-technical) responsible for coordinating the process,
• The establishment of a multi-year plan describing the actions planned over several years,
• The definition of Tracking KPI (compliance rate, audits carried out, user feedback...),
• The establishment of a dynamic of continuous improvement, supported by regular audits and field feedback.

The most common mistakes... and how to avoid them

Some practices can hinder or compromise accessibility:

• Consider accessibility as a one-time task : This is not a “one shot” project but a ongoing commitment, evolving with uses and technologies.
• Entrusting accessibility to developers only : The whole chain is concerned: design, Contents, marketing, customer support, RH... Everyone has a role to play.
• Rely on automatic tools only: Tools like Lighthouse, Wave or DevTools axis are useful but do not replace manual testing (e.g. keyboard navigation, screen reader).
• Neglecting the accessibility of content : A technically compliant interface may remain inaccessible if texts are too complex, poorly structured, or with no audio or video alternative.

In summary: a strategic and ongoing commitment

Integrating digital accessibility does not mean ticking an RGAA box or responding to a regulatory constraint: it is engaging in a inclusive innovation approach, which improves the user experience for all, strengthens the brand image and anticipates future legal obligations.

Chez Ciao and IT Link, we support companies in this transition, through an approach progressive, operational and tailor-made, adapted to their maturity and their challenges.

What we offer:

We have designed flexible support around three pillars:

1. Diagnosis & strategy

• RGAA technical audits
• Evaluation of uses and user tests
• Prioritized compliance plan

2. Training & awareness

• Workshops to raise awareness of accessibility issues
• Targeted training for designers, devs, editors, POs...
• Practical workshops to develop skills in real and concrete situations

3. Integration into the project cycle

• Accessibility coaching for agile teams
• Assistance in writing diagrams and action plans
• Provision of accessibility referents

The goal is not just to be compliant, but to help you integrating accessibility as a sustainable and differentiating skill.

June 2025: don't wait until the last moment

It is the beginning of June. You have a few weeks left to start the change. Here are our concrete tips to get started Right now :

1. Identify the sites/services concerned by law;
2. Quickly assess their current level of accessibility (a flash audit may be enough to identify the main priorities);
3. Raise awareness among your project teams to avoid blockages and misunderstandings;
4. Plan an action plan (even simple, a plan that can be improved is better than no plan at all);
5. Take contact with an expert external to be accompanied, even temporarily.

Digital accessibility is a transversal project. The more you anticipate it, the more fluid and useful the increase in skills will be for everyone.

Conclusion: prepare now

The month of June 2025 will mark a real paradigm shift for French companies: regulations ondigital accessibility is expanding and now applies well beyond the public sector.

For organizations that have not anticipated anything, this deadline could be a considerable challenge. But for those who are preparing for it today, it is a concrete opportunity to:

• Modernizing their digital products and services,
• Strengthen the user experience, for all audiences,
• Increase their societal impact, by integrating principles of sustainable inclusion,
• Gain credibility and competitiveness, in an increasingly standardized digital environment.

We are convinced that digital technology that is more accessible is digital technology that is more efficient.

You want to:

• Conduct a quick audit of your interfaces?
• Raise awareness or To form do your teams have accessibility?
• Co-building a compliance roadmap?

Our experts are listening to you.

Download our free guide or contact us to start the process!