Voices - IAAP
The European Accessibility Act has just come into force. How do you feel about this moment? Do you have any concerns?
Christopher Lee:We are excited. At G3ict/IAAP, we had been preparing for the EAA for years by investing in education, certification, events and community. Now, with little time to spare, the challenge is clear. Companies urgently need employees who understand accessibility. We urge organisations and professionals to act now and to prioritise training and collaboration.
In your view, what is the most common mistake that you see in business when approaching accessibility compliance?
Christopher: A common mistake in businesses is viewing accessibility as a task to complete once, something you test, fix and then forget. Accessibility is a continuous process. It should be part of the organisation's DNA, not just a box to tick. Numerous companies still see accessibility purely as a compliance issue rather than as an integral part of their business strategy. We need to show that accessibility equals good business. It drives innovation and customer loyalty.
Monica Duhem: Completely agree. Accessibility is a process, not a result. Companies pour massive amounts of money on testing or remediating, but if they train their teams and embed accessibility early, they save time and funds in the long run. If you fix accessibility only at the finishing line, you spend millions. If you integrate it into workflows, it becomes sustainable.
Christopher: And content accessibility is another major challenge - especially PDFs and other legacy documents that remain inaccessible, but are still widely used. Organisations also need to think beyond websites and make sure that everything works well on mobile devices as that is where most people access digital content today.
What can Europe learn from the US, the most developed country when it comes to accessibility?
Christopher: The US and the EU take different paths toward the same goal. In the US, accessibility practice has long relied on documentation tools like VPATs, which help organisations to report their level of compliance. In Europe, the EAA prescribes clear technical standards through EN 301 549, but leaves room to refine how reporting and enforcement will work in practice. Both regions bring valuable experience. We can all learn from each other to build stronger, more consistent accessibility systems worldwide.
European businesses facing the EAA’s 2025 enforcement can leverage the insights from the U.S. ADA and Section 508 to accelerate their learning. American and European approaches differ – the U.S. places greater emphasis on documentation, whereas Europe focuses on clear technical standards (EN 301 549), leaving some details open. Both frameworks draw heavily on WCAG. The U.S. lessons have shown that maintaining documentation is essential for reducing risk, clarifying procurement processes and ensuring legal defensibility. By understanding the strengths of both regions, namely, the process and reporting practices in the U.S. and the harmonised standards in Europe, companies can build robust global accessibility systems.
How does the legislation in Europe compare to other frameworks? Is it done right? Do you notice any gaps?
Christopher: It is still early to judge how the EAA will perform in practice, but I am optimistic. Its harmonised approach is what makes it truly remarkable, as it unifies accessibility laws across all EU Member States to create a single, consistent framework. For the first time, digital and ICT providers across Europe have a shared standard with clear technical guidance on how to comply. It is a solid foundation to build on.
Monica: In my view, the EAA standard has become a model far beyond Europe. Countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Mexico and Chile have used the EU framework to shape their own accessibility standards. What makes the EAA truly innovative is that, for the first time, the private sector - not just governments - must comply. It is a real game changer. Globally, many countries have regulations inspired by the UN Convention, but implementation often falls short. The EAA might improve the situation as it places the responsibility squarely on businesses.
Now, with accessibility required in both public and private sectors, how do you see Europe in terms professional workforce ready to implement it in every large institution?
Christopher: Europe's accessibility profession is growing fast. We see more certifications and training, especially in Western Europe. The journey has just begun. In Central and Eastern Europe, we are merely scratching the surface. Yet, those regions offer tremendous potential. At IAAP, with leaders like Susanna Laurén and our European chapters, we have launched many exciting initiatives. These include online Q&A sessions on the EAA, a LinkedIn community and a video series explaining each article of the Directive. Thousands of professionals are engaging, driving momentum and positive change.
However, growth takes time. To accelerate progress, we need more people, especially those in procurement roles, to take specific steps, pursuing professional certification, sharing accessible procurement resources with colleagues and encouraging companies to prioritise accessibility in every purchasing decision. By doing so, one will help to ensure that fewer inaccessible products are purchased, directly improving access for all.
Monica: And we need to debunk the myth that accessibility is too complex or too expensive. It is not. What results in high costs is fixing things too late. When people understand their role - whether they are developers, managers or designers - accessibility becomes natural. It is about clarity, not complexity.
What do you think about the future of emerging technologies? How do you anticipate they will impact and challenge accessibility in Europe and globally?
Christopher: I am genuinely excited about AI because it is rapidly reshaping the very foundation of digital accessibility. Current laws were designed for websites and software, but new technologies - AI, XR, multimodal devices, neural interfaces and distributed environments - are already revealing the limitations of today’s regulatory models. The next wave will challenge standards and require proactive adaptation. Emerging AI capabilities are transforming accessibility tooling (captions, alt text, image descriptions), while raising questions about accuracy, bias and accountability. Meanwhile, XR (VR/AR) is expanding into consumer, workplace and industrial use, but standards such as WCAG do not yet address 3D layouts or gestures. Voice UX is becoming standard everywhere. However, reliability still falters for people with speech disabilities or in noisy settings. Adapting our accessibility frameworks to keep pace with these advances is urgent and necessary.
Of all these trends, quantum computing stands out as perhaps the most transformative. As scalability improves, it could revolutionise data processing and accessibility, particularly in complex sectors like healthcare. I believe the next three to five years will determine the future of equitable access to technology.
Monica: Yet, there is a key point: if you do not understand accessibility, you cannot design accessible AI. Technology will not solve barriers automatically. People need to understand how disabilities interact with digital environments. AI is powerful, but it needs human awareness behind it.
If you were advising a multinational company on building accessibility capabilities across US and EU markets, what would be your top recommendation for creating consistency while respecting regional differences?
Christopher: Consider centralising your accessibility strategy by integrating it with your company's vision, policies and procurement. You might appoint a dedicated accessibility lead or team and investigate selecting accessible platforms and tools from the outset. Using WCAG as your foundation and creating lightweight policy layers could help address regional legal differences. Involving persons with disabilities at every stage of product design is incredibly valuable. Treating inclusive design as non-negotiable, by testing with real users, addressing all disabilities and pledging annual strategy reviews, can help keep pace with evolving technology. It may be beneficial to begin building external partnerships soon. One of the benefits of being an IAAP organisational member is that we provide a platform for learning from one another's successes and share resources, thereby driving progress together.
Monica:Absolutely. Big tech companies also have a responsibility. Small organisations depend on their platforms, such as Salesforce, Microsoft, AWS, etc., so global tech leaders should help smaller players use accessibility features effectively. Accessibility is not only about compliance. It is about sharing knowledge and building collective capacity.
What advice would you give to companies just beginning their accessibility journey?
Christopher: Start with a core group of engaged employees who believe in the importance of the journey. Build accessibility into the culture, not just your code. Accessibility is not an engineering project. It is a cross-organisational capability that should be integrated into your design and development process. One of the most common early mistakes we see is companies treating accessibility as an audit after launch rather than documenting the process to track it.
Bring together a focus group - include employees with disabilities, accessibility professionals, developers and managers. Talk openly about your products, your gaps, and your goals. You cannot fix what you do not know. That discussion is the first real step.
Monica: And understand what accessibility truly means. Many people confuse it with affordability. Accessibility is about removing barriers, not making things affordable for someone who has no money. Do not be afraid of it - it is not as complicated as it seems. Learn the basics, assign roles and embed accessibility into every process. That is how you build long-term value.
Christopher: And remember, this takes investment, smart investment. Allocate a budget, plan in phases and measure progress. It is not a cost, it is an opportunity to build better and more inclusive businesses.
Interview by Karolina Mendecka
Business Accessibility Forum Director