EN 301 549

EN 301 549 is the European accessibility standard for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services. It was further adopted as the Canadian national standard in May 2024.

EN 301 549’s primary purpose is to ensure that ICT, including websites, software, and digital devices, are accessible to people with disabilities. The standard promotes inclusive design to enhance usability for everyone, and sets guidelines to remove barriers in digital environments. The goal is to make sure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can use these technologies effectively. One criticism of this standard is that it focuses heavily on checklist-based compliance, rather than enhancing user experiences of people with disabilities. Furthermore, it lacks clear guidelines on how to validate whether these accessibility objectives have been met effectively.

To learn more, visit our blog post Canada adopts new accessibility standard: EN 301 549 and  Accessibility Standards Canada.