Debate about policies in favour of people with disabilities has climbed up a notch on the agenda with the publication in December last year of new European Commission proposals for a European Accessibility Act.
According to Eurostat, 80 million EU citizens are affected by some kind of disability, a number which is projected to increase to 120 million by 2020 considering the rising elderly population.
The European Accessibility Act extends current laws on accessibility to cover new products and services like computers, ATMs, ticketing and check-in machines and smartphones. It also covers services related to all transport modes – air, bus, rail and waterborne.
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EU turns up pressure on accessibility rights of people with disabilities
The draft European Accessibility Act seeks to bring together “fragmented” national laws while creating new rights enabling full access to services ranging from transport to cash dispensers.
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EU disability rights bill won’t fix public transport problems, campaigners fear
Public transport authorities in cities around Europe are expecting that they'll have to improve ticket machines to make them easier to read for people who are partially or totally blind, once an EU disability rights bill is passed.
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MEP: Accessibility laws ‘benefit everyone’
The European Accessibility Act has the potential to create new opportunities for European business but should avoid creating “barriers” to innovation, according to Helga Stevens.
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Navracsics: New technologies are ‘unmatched vectors’ of integration
Technology can make "an enormous difference" for pupils with disabilities, offering them the same opportunities as other students, according to Tibor Navracsics, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports.
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European Accessibility Act ‘not future-proof enough’
The EU tech industry has criticised the European Commission’s draft Accessibility Act, saying it is too prescriptive and fails to provide incentives for innovative businesses to develop the solutions that will make life easier for people with disabilities.
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Leftist MEP: EU Accessibility Act is an ‘ideal chance’
The European Accessibility Act for people with disabilities opens a "huge horizon" and new innovation fields for everybody, but its scope should be widened to more products and services, MEP Konstantina Kuneva said in an interview with EURACTIV.com.
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Why innovation should be accessible for all
Accessibility in technology should not be an afterthought, it should be celebrated, as a motor for innovation, writes Adina Braha-Honciuc.
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Technology opening new doors for people with disabilities
With almost 15% of the world’s population living with a disability, building a more inclusive society is a key priority.
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Better accessibility is good for consumers and businesses
The common standards brought in by the Accessibility Act will benefit businesses and consumers, bringing regulatory certainty and making sure no-one is left behind, writes Marianne Thyssen.
