WEBINAR European Accessibility Act: One year to go. Are you ready?

• Free webinar
• Wednesday 3 July at 1pm BST,  2024
• Online - Zoom 

Join us on July 3, 2024, at 13:00 BST for an informative panel discussion featuring industry experts and representatives to find out about The European Accessibility Act (EAA).

Who does the European Accessibility Act apply to?

This free webinar is ideal for accessibility professionals, compliance teams, technology teams, senior leaders, and industry stakeholders who are keen to delve into the workings of the EAA.

Unlike previous accessibility legislation, the EAA extends its reach to the private sector, including businesses with at least 10 employees and a turnover exceeding €2 million. 

Even companies based outside the EU must comply if they sell relevant goods or services within the European Union.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the EAA and its effect on you.

What to expect in this free webinar:

• Understand the current accessibility landscape about the EAA and its significance and implications
• The EAA’s implementation deadline approaches on June 28, 2025. Our panel experts will discuss the steps your organisation needs to take
• Get relevance reassurance- discover whether the EAA applies to your organisation

Register today

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The EAA is designed to ensure equal access to digital products and services across Europe. It applies to all businesses that engage in trade within the EU, regardless of their location.

It covers a broad spectrum of goods and services. Starting from June 2025, it will be legally binding in all EU member states. Notably, it directly impacts UK businesses and also affects suppliers to both public and private sector organisations. 

The EAA’s primary goal is to enhance the lives of disabled and older individuals within the EU by establishing a common set of regulations that replace country-specific accessibility rules. 

The Act predominantly focuses on technology, covering essential products and services within computers, smartphones, TV equipment, transportation services, banking, e-books, e-commerce, ATMs, and ticketing machines. Each product or service must meet specific standards to be legally traded within the EU. 

Save your spot: register today – registrants will also have priority access to the free AbilityNet EAA guide which you will receive by email in June 2024.

Everyone who registers for the webinar will receive the recording, slides and transcript after the event, so do sign up even if you can't attend on the broadcast date.

Check our Frequently Asked Questions about Webinars for more details about how our webinars work.

Meet the Panellists

Christopher Patnoe, Head of Accessibility and Disability Inclusion at Google

Christopher Patnoe is the Head of Accessibility and Disability Inclusion for EMEA at Google. He leads Google's efforts concerning the accessibility of products, focusing on people – both Google creators and end users. He has more than 25 years experience in technology and design, including time at Apple and Disney. The London Accessibility Discovery Centre opened in November 2022 and has been a huge success, attracting external attention from all over Europe as well as building strong links with internal teams. 

Susanna Laurin, Chief Research and Innovation Officer at Funka

Susanna Laurin is the Chief Research and Innovation Officer at Funka, a European based market leading consultancy focusing on accessibility. She has been a thought leader in the field of digitalisation, inclusion and e-government for more than 20 years and she is a frequent international lecturer and debater. Susanna is the Chair of the ETSI/CEN/CENELEC Joint Working Group on eAccessibility, responsible for the development and update of the EN301549, to reflect presumed conformance of the Web Accessibility Directive and the upcoming European Accessibility Act.

Susanna is leading strategic assignments and research projects on EU level, nationally and across the world. Recent assignments for the European Commission include the formal review of the Web Accessibility Directive and a study on cognitive accessibility. 

Susanna is a co-founder, Representative to the EU and also Past Honorary Chair of IAAP, the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, as well as the Representative to the EU for the UN-initiative G3ict. 

Vayia Malamidou, Accessibility and Usability Consultant at AbilityNet

Vayia Malamidou currently works as an Accessibility and Usability Consultant at AbilityNet. Her role includes carrying out design reviews, accessibility audits, user testing and providing in-depth consultancy to organisations on web accessibility and usability. 

Having spent 20 years working in a variety of digital content projects, she now specialises in the domain of digital accessibility. She is accredited with the Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) qualification awarded by IAAP. 

She is accredited with the Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA) qualification awarded by the IAAP.

Sabine Lobnig, Director for Communications at Mobile & Wireless Forum (MWF)

Sabine is the MWF’s Director for Communications. The MWF is the international association of companies with an interest in mobile and wireless communications including the evolution to 5G and the Internet of Things. One of the MWF’s main projects is the Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative (GARI). GARI’s mission is to inform consumers about existing accessibility solutions in the market today and help them identify devices with features that best help their individual needs. This includes mobile phones with built-in screen readers, “simple access” for persons who find today’s user interfaces overwhelming, Wearables with haptic feedback, Smart TVs that allow voice recognition for accessing features, or mobile apps that have been developed specifically to help overcome a barrier in daily life like finding accessible locations.

Useful Links

• Find out more about our digital accessibility services
• Blog: Your questions about the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
• Need help now? Ask our accessibility experts