European Accessibility Act: How we’re making our app accessible

The European Accessibility Act comes into effect this June, setting new standards for digital inclusivity. Over the past few months, we have been working on making our app more accessibly and therefore, compliant with the EAA. Thus, we want all users to have a better experience, including those that rely on assistive technology.

Below are some of the most impactful accessibility improvements we’re making to help everyone enjoy a smoother, more inclusive event experience.

1. Keyboard-first navigation for accessible interface

For users relying on keyboards or switch controls, we’ve made it possible to navigate our platform end-to-end using the keyboard alone. That means speakers can start and stop recordings, attendees can explore tabs and app pages, moderators can manage session settings.

What’s new:

• Tabs and buttons across the platform are now fully accessible with the Tab key.
• We’ve removed keyboard traps that could prevent users from exiting certain sections.
• App pages and dashboards are now properly structured to receive focus in the right order.

2. Screen reader adaptability

Screen readers are assistive technologies used by people who are blind or have low vision. They read everything aloud on the screen: page headings, button labels, image descriptions and more. For the readers to work correctly, the app must be properly structured with clear labels, logical page order and meaningful alt text. This is a key feature in providing accessible interface for users.

What’s new:

• Providing meaningful labels to buttons, links and form elements, so users know the function of each interactive component.
• Introducing alt-text for images that users would want to know the content of, such as sponsor banners, floor plans, etc.
• Removing unnecessary or confusing labels by skipping alt text for decorative elements such as profile pictures or divider icons, which don’t add value when read aloud.
• Clear heading structure helps screen readers understand the page at a glance. We’ve improved heading hierarchies so users can navigate more efficiently by section.
• Logical focus order now flows naturally from top to bottom and left to right, avoiding sudden jumps. Pages like the programme, dashboards, and profile areas are now more predictable and easier to use.

3. Improved readability at all sizes and contrast levels

Zooming in, increasing font sizes, or switching to high contrast shouldn’t break your layout. That’s why we’ve made sure text remains readable and interfaces remain usable and accessible, no matter your device settings.

What’s new:

• Text remains legible and functional even at higher zoom levels.
• We now automatically choose black or white text based on which offers better contrast on backgrounds like buttons.
• While users can still set their own colours, we’ve ensured that all default black and grey text meets accessibility standards for readability.

Accessibility is an ongoing process

These improvements are part of our ongoing commitment to digital accessibility and full compliance with the European Accessibility Act. They mark an important step forward, but we’ll continue listening, testing, and improving to ensure that everyone can participate fully in the events they attend.

If you’d like to learn more about our accessibility efforts or test the latest updates, don’t hesitate to reach out.

 

This article was written together with our Product Owner, Annette Voesenek.