As the June 28 deadline for the European Accessibility Act (EAA) draws near, organizations across industries are reevaluating their digital accessibility strategies. According to Applause’s 2025 State of Digital Quality in Accessibility report, 94% of organizations are preparing to meet EAA requirements — up from 58% last year. This increase reflects a broader, global shift toward inclusion, with accessibility becoming not just a compliance issue, but a core component of digital strategy.
Yet despite growing awareness, many organizations still face a stark reality — they lack the expertise, tools and scalable processes to make accessibility a seamless and sustained part of their digital operations. That’s where Verbit steps in — not just with AI-powered tools, but with a wide range of solutions designed to make digital content more inclusive, accurate and compliant.
Accessibility awareness is growing, but gaps remain
The Applause report paints a mixed picture. On one hand, awareness and prioritization of accessibility are at all-time highs:
- 84% of professionals say digital accessibility is a top or important priority.
- 86% are employing inclusive design principles at the planning stage.
- 77% are incorporating accessibility early in the software development life cycle.
On the other hand, there remain gaps in execution:
- 68% of organizations lack the expertise and resources to independently and continuously test for accessibility.
- Only 33% directly engage people with disabilities in accessibility efforts.
- Nearly half of teams testing AI systems are doing so without under-represented voices, including those in the disability community, raising concerns around bias and usability.
With the EAA set to mandate accessibility for everything from e-commerce platforms to e-books, media and communications, many businesses are turning to AI-driven accessibility solutions. But AI alone isn’t enough.
Verbit: An accessibility partner
Verbit’s accessibility solutions go far beyond the capabilities of generic AI tools. We provide industry-specific captioning, transcription, audio description, translation and dubbing services that meet the demands of compliance and usability. Below are a few ways that we help organizations bridge the accessibility gap as the EAA deadline looms.
Scalable, accurate captioning and transcription
One of the most cited accessibility issues in Applause’s report was videos without captions, an issue for 32% of users. Verbit’s proprietary, AI-powered solution, Captivate™, combines industry leading technology with decades of experience to provide high-accuracy transcripts and captions, guaranteed uptimes, customizable solutions and integrations with multiple platforms. It’s scalable, can be tailored to individual customer needs and provides the option for a final layer of human editing for accuracy and context.
This layered approach solves one of the biggest challenges highlighted in Applause’s report — the inability of many generic AI tools to understand domain-specific language or accommodate diverse speakers.
Solutions tailored for your sector
Verbit doesn’t offer one-size-fits-all accessibility. Instead, we bring industry-specific solutions built for the unique demands of a variety of industries, including:
- Education: Verbit supports universities and schools by making lectures and course materials accessible with live and post-event captioning. Seamless LMS integrations and adherence to WCAG and ADA standards ensure inclusive learning experiences.
- Media & Entertainment: As a global leader in media accessibility, Verbit provides closed captioning, subtitling, audio description and transcription to broadcast networks, cable channels and streaming platforms. We’ve helped thousands of entertainment customers meet FCC, Ofcom and ADA requirements. As media industry standards and requirements change, so do our solutions.
- Government: Verbit helps public sector bodies meet compliance with confidence and ensures accessible press briefings, legislative sessions and public communications.
Continuous testing and QA support
One of the major pain points from Applause’s survey was the lack of continuous testing. Verbit addresses this by working as a strategic partner, not just a service provider. With human-in-the-loop QA, customer support and industry-aligned updates, Verbit enables organizations to stay compliant and adaptive not just before the EAA deadline, but long after.
Compliance-ready and secure
With growing concerns around data handling and legal exposure, Verbit’s platform is built with compliance and security at its core. Our platforms and services are regularly audited to meet evolving standards.
Building toward a more inclusive digital future
The Applause report confirms that inclusion — and not just compliance — is a key driver behind accessibility investments. Nearly half of professionals rank improving usability for all users as their primary motivator. But good intentions aren’t enough without the right tools, processes and partnerships.
With the European Accessibility Act on the horizon, now is the time for organizations to move from awareness to action. Verbit’s full suite of accessibility solutions helps businesses not only meet regulatory requirements but also reach broader, more diverse audiences with accurate, accessible content.
Your guide to EAA compliance
Check out our free guide to understand what’s at stake and how your business can prepare.
