Accessibility Events in May
Save the Date: May 5th is European Protest Day Campaigning for the Equality of Disabled People
If you know of any other events happening in the online or offline accessibility, disability inclusion space, email them to me by replying to this newsletter or add them as a comment on Substack.
Online Events
[in German] Digital A11y Online Stammtisch
Montag 5. Mai 16:00 - 17:30 Uhr
Jeden Monat findet auf Zoom der Stammtisch zum Austausch zu Themen rund um digitale Barrierefreiheit zwischen Personen aus Development, User Experience, Design, sowie allen Interessierten statt.
Understanding the Disability Discrimination Act: Guidelines on Equal Access to Digital Goods and Services (Intopia)
Tuesday 6 May, 11 AM to 12 PM AEST
This session will allow you to ask questions about the updated Disability Discrimination Act Guidelines on Equal Access to Digital Goods and Services. You can learn more about the Guidelines in Intopia’s Guidelines Resource Kit. The recording will be available later on Intopia’s YouTube channel.
Onlineveranstaltung der Überwachungsstelle des Bundes für Barrierefreiheit und Informationstechnik
Donnerstag 8. Mai 2025, 14:00 Uhr - 15:00 Uhr
Was können moderne Betriebssysteme und Browser ohne zusätzliche Software? Auf dem Markt gibt es viele Tools, die Anbieter dabei unterstützen möchten, diese Aufgabe einfach und gut umzusetzen. Im Rahmen der Veranstaltung werden folgende Fragen beleuchtet:
Was sind typische Probleme bei der Nutzung von Webauftritten?
Was sind Overlay-Tools und wie funktionieren diese?
Welche Barrierefreiheitsfunktionen bieten Betriebssysteme und / oder Browser?
Können Overlay-Tools Menschen mit Beeinträchtigungen unterstützen?
Wie sich blinde Menschen im digitalen Raum bewegen - Claudio Zeni
Mittwoch Mai 21, 7:15 PM - 8:15 PM CEST
In diesem praxisorientierten Workshop lernst du mit welchen Barrieren blinde Menschen in ihrem digitalen Alltag regelmässig konfrontiert sind und wie diese (oft mit einfachen Mitteln) beseitigt werden könnten. Erfahre warum ich PDF-Dateien trotz Hilfsmittel häufig nicht lesen kann, begleite mich auf meiner Entdeckungsreise durch einen Online-Shop und schaue mir über die Schultern wenn ich versuche auf meinem Smartphone eine Zugverbindung abzufragen.
Barrierefreiheit praxisnah erleben - dass ist das Motto dieses Abends.
Nach der einstündigen Schulung folgt eine Fragerunde mit offenem Ende.
Accessibility Nightmares: From Digital Disaster to Inclusive Triumph
Thursday, May 22, 4:00 - 5:00 PM BST
In today's digital landscape, accessibility isn't a luxury: it's a critical business imperative and an investment. An investment in broader market reach, reduced legal risk, and genuinely inclusive digital experiences.
The "Accessibility Nightmares" webinar pulls back the curtain on the types of real-world digital disasters that have cost companies millions, damaged reputations, and left users frustrated and excluded.
European Accessibility Act & Integrated Accessibility Testing by Emma Dawson
Thursday, May 22, 5:00 – 6:00 PM (GMT+2)
Focus: European Accessibility Act, Integrated Testing tools and methods (e.g. Linters, Storybook, Playwright)
Accessibility specialist web developer Emma Dawson will prepare you for the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which comes into effect on 28 June 2025, and show you how development teams can prepare for it. She will explore with you various integrated testing methods and tools that will help you improve accessibility during the development cycle, such as Linters, Storybook, Playwright - just to name a few.
Recording, transcripts, slides, and articles can be found afterwards on the event page and on Accessibility First.
hybrid
[Athens] Creating accessible and inclusive workplaces for persons with disabilities
Tuesday 6 May 2025, 10:00 - 14:00 (EEST)
Location: Hotel Titania: 52 Panepistimiou Avenue, 106 78 Athens. Greece
Taking into consideration that persons with disabilities continue to face multiple barriers in the labor market -including physical inaccessibility, lack of assistive technologies, and limited access to reasonable accommodations, all of which undermine equal opportunities- the event will not only highlight these barriers but also emphasize the benefits of inclusive employment practices, through presentations and discussions.
Participants will gain insights into practical solutions that promote equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the event, which is closely aligned with Article 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and General Comment No. 8 (2022), will provide a comprehensive overview of the existing legal framework.
[Tomar] Assistive Technology in Portugal. Agenda for Action on AT in Portugal (AccessibleEU Portugal)
Friday 9 May 2025, 09:30 - 18:00 (WEST)
Location: Instituto Politécnico de Tomar. Av. Dr. Aurélio Ribeiro 3, Tomar, Portugal
This meeting arises from the need to bring together professionals and users of AT to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and identify paths for the advancement of AT in Portugal. The main objective of the event is to create an "Agenda for Action", based on the analysis of the current situation, existing challenges, and the definition of concrete strategies to overcome them.
Throughout the day, specialists in the areas of Communication, Mobility, and Aids to Daily Living will discuss different perspectives, promoting a structured dialogue between users, prescribers, adjustment and training professionals, and researchers.
[Madrid] Strengthening inclusion through the European Accessibility Act (AccessibleEU Spain)
Wednesday 14 May 2025, 10:00 - 17:00 (CEST)
Location: Fundación ONCE, Salón de Actos, Sebastián Herrera, 15, 28012 Madrid. Spain
Law 11/2023 of May transposes in Spain the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which enters into force on June 28, 2025. By bringing together different stakeholders, this AccessibleEU event points out this crucial moment to reflect on the progress made.
The event aims to:
Promote awareness of the EAA and Law 11/2023 by informing stakeholders about the implications, opportunities, and obligations introduced by the Law and its transposition regulations in Spain.
Foster dialogue and cooperation by facilitating knowledge exchange between policymakers, businesses, civil society, and accessibility experts.
Inspire action by encouraging stakeholders to take proactive steps to implement the EAA and Law 11/2023 and continue building an inclusive society.
[Nova Gorica] GAAD Slovenia 2025 (AccessibleEU Slovenia)
Thursday 15 May 2025, 09:00 - 16:00 (CEST)
Location: Mestna občina Nova Gorica (Room:Velika dvorana). Trg Edvarda Kardelja 1. 5000 Nova Gorica. Slovenia
The event addresses critical areas such as the rights of persons with disabilities and mechanisms for their advocacy. It delves into diverse sectors, highlighting Information Technology with a focus on web and mobile accessibility, assistive technology innovations, and digital inclusion. The discussions extend to the built environment, addressing public space accessibility, universal design principles, and accessibility technologies with best practices in culture and municipality and relevant training for professionals in these fields.
The primary objectives of GAAD Slovenia 2025 are to foster dialogue, share best practices, and stimulate action towards the inclusion of persons with disabilities across multiple domains. By uniting stakeholders from various sectors, including technology, built environment, transportation, and standards, the event seeks to catalyse the development and implementation of accessible solutions. Through this collaborative effort, GAAD Slovenia 2025 aspires to contribute significantly to the advancement of accessibility, ensuring more inclusive and equitable environments for all individuals.
in Person
[Wien] Baustelle Inklusion: Jeder Artikel zählt. Wir bauen auf Menschenrechte, nicht auf Ausreden.
Montag, 5. Mai, 9:00 - 19:00, Parlament
Am 05. Mai 2025 findet der Europäische Protesttag zur Gleichstellung von Menschen mit Behinderungen statt. Daher wird es eine große Aktion vor dem Parlament geben mit dem Titel „Baustelle Inklusion: Jeder Artikel zählt. Wir bauen auf Menschenrechte, nicht auf Ausreden.“ Veranstaltet wird der Aktionstag von mehreren Organisationen, wie dem Österreichischen Behindertenrat und Selbstbestimmt Leben in Österreich.
[Charleroi, Belgium] Accessibility Day (AccessibleEU Belgium)
Tuesday 13 May 2025, 09:00 - 16:30 (CEST)
Location: Van der Valk Hotel Charleroi Airport, chaussée de Courcelles 115. 6041 Charleroi. Belgium
This AccessibleEU co-organised with AccessAndGO-ABP and with the support of the AVIQ, will focus on how to make a municipality accessible to all, setting up a handistreaming policy.
The aim of the conference is to provide local authorities with guidelines on how to implement an effective handistreaming policy and launch an accessibility plan for their buildings, roads and websites.
[Vienna] A-Tag Accessibility Day 2025 (AccessibleEU Austria)
Thursday 15 May 2025, 10:00 - 17:00 (CEST)
For two decades, ATAG has been a driving force in promoting accessibility in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to shape a more inclusive digital landscape. With the support of AccessibleEU, this year's event will be bigger and more impactful than ever, featuring thought-provoking discussions, hands-on workshops, and inspiring success stories.
[Frankfurt] Sight City
May 21-23, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Location: Kap Europa, Osloer Straße 5, Frankfurt am Main
SightCity Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair for aids and solutions for the blind and visually impaired. Every year, Kap Europa in Frankfurt am Main becomes an international center for innovation, inclusion and progress.
Admission is €5 per person and day, but can be avoided if you register online in advance.
Accessibility Club Summit
May 24th- 25th, 2025 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Technische Hochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS)
Join us for two days of gaining knowledge about web accessibility, exchanging experiences and meeting like-minded enthusiasts from all over Europe and beyond: May 24th-25th, 2025, in Würzburg, Germany!
Coming up next…
#id24 will return on 25 September 2025
Inclusive Design 24 (#id24) is a free 24-hour online event for the global community. It celebrates inclusive design and shares knowledge and ideas from analog to digital, from design to development, from planners to practitioners, and everything and everyone in between.
The call for presenters is open until 31 May. Selected speakers will be notified the week of 23 June.