Manifesto

Accessibility Manifesto 
Business Accessibility Forum

Preamble

In light of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted on December 13, 2006, which established a global framework for accessibility, and the directive of the European Parliament and Council (EU) 2019/882 of April 17, 2019, on the accessibility requirements for products and services, which requires Member States to ensure that products and services are accessible to all citizens, we express our satisfaction with the implementation by the Polish legislator of the Act of April 26, 2024, on ensuring the accessibility requirements of certain products and services by economic entities.

The entry into force of the so-called European Accessibility Act (EAA) strengthens our efforts to build a society where there is no place for discrimination, and access to information, technology, and services is universal and independent of individual needs. We welcome these steps, which lead us toward a more inclusive and just digital environment, enabling every person to fully participate in social, cultural, and economic life. We also recognize the positive impact of the act on the development of organizations and the culture of innovation within enterprises.

The BAF Accessibility Manifesto arises directly from these fundamental commitments and from our conviction that digital accessibility is not only a right but also a condition for fully enjoying civil liberties and human rights.

Our Values

• Accessibility is a human right and essential for fully enjoying basic rights, including the right to information, the right to conduct business and work, the right to education, to participate in culture, and the right to freedom of expression and communication.
• Without accessible digital resources, these rights remain theoretical and unattainable for those facing temporary or permanent barriers due to age, functional limitations, disabilities, or insufficient technology or digital skills.
• The requirements imposed by the act also provide an opportunity for service providers and manufacturers to introduce innovations, new technologies, and solutions that enable reaching new groups of customers. Accessibility is not only an obligation but also a strategic market advantage benefiting both consumers and economic entities. We believe that implementing accessibility will increase market competitiveness, support long-term development, and ensure sustainable business success.

BAF’s Vision

• Realizing the right to accessibility requires the effort of both public and private entities, as well as deep engagement and cooperation of experts from various fields - from information technology, through law, to universal design and education.
• It also requires a collaborative dialogue and interdisciplinary cooperation among decision-makers, experts, and technology users to ensure that requirements are clear, rational, and aligned with business standards, and that adopted solutions are not only technically advanced but also user-friendly and accessible to all users.
• We want to oversee the application of the best yet feasible accessibility standards, spread knowledge, and contribute to creating an inclusive society. We want every initiative we support to be a step forward toward equal access to the digital world for all.

Our Commitments

In our commitment to accessibility, we emphasize promoting good practices at both national and international levels. We believe that a shared understanding of accessibility among all stakeholders is crucial for effective implementation within the EU market.

The 10 Accessibility Commandments

We are pleased with the commitment Europe and Poland are showing toward promoting accessibility. However, we must emphasize that enterprises will have limited time to implement accessibility within their organizations, as the act comes into effect on June 28, 2025.

We view the law as a tool for progress, guiding a structured approach to achieving accessibility. At the same time, we recognize significant difficulties in interpreting the subjective and objective scope of the act, which is the first such comprehensive regulation of this type.

Therefore, we declare the BAF's commitment to promoting sustainable, realistic, and business-rational accessibility practices, which we have outlined in the 10 Accessibility Commandments.

Our Commandments demonstrates what is important to us and what we want to share with entrepreneurs, users, and regulatory bodies. We aim to create an open and accessible world.

1. Flexibility in Implementing the Act's Requirements:
   Accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time action. We aim to adapt implementation schedules to the real capabilities of enterprises. At the same time, we see an information asymmetry regarding the business reality and a technological asymmetry between regulatory bodies.
2. Harmonization of European Regulations:
   We promote increasing actions aimed at harmonizing accessibility regulations across the EU. We emphasize the need to eliminate market fragmentation and reduce adaptation costs for businesses by standardizing statutory, executive, and administrative requirements. This will ensure fairer competition and facilitate cross-border trade.
3. Common Standards:
   We promote the idea of creating and enforcing uniform accessibility requirements across different economic sectors to prevent fragmentation of national standards. Unified regulations are essential for efficient business operations and equal opportunities for all enterprises.
4. Understandable Procedures:
   We highlight the importance of clear and precise accessibility implementation processes. We strive to ensure that they are understandable and easy to carry out for all interested parties.
5. Transparent Communication:
   We value transparency in all aspects of accessibility, from clear communication of requirements, through honest informing of economic entities about their obligations, to the openness of regulatory bodies to feedback.
6. Constructive Dialogue:
   We aim to build understanding between businesses, users, and regulatory bodies, so that the requirements placed on entrepreneurs are clear, relevant, and flexible, and so that they enable economic entities to implement the requirements effectively yet gradually.
7. Technological Understanding:
   We promote a deeper understanding of the challenges related to implementing accessibility by service providers, manufacturers, representatives, importers, and distributors, supporting enterprises in adapting innovations.
8. Partnership:
   We commit to educating users and the market about the benefits of accessibility. We want to support businesses in gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to implement accessibility. We also count on the engagement of regulatory bodies in jointly promoting and implementing accessibility.
9. Investments:
   We promote the importance of investments in implementing accessibility, which will bring value to people using digital products and positively impact business growth and organizational development.
10. Using Standards Developed by the W3C Consortium:
    We emphasize the role of standards developed by the W3C Consortium, especially the WCAG guidelines, as a global benchmark for accessibility. We encourage regulatory bodies and enterprises to use and promote them.

Call to Action

Accessibility is a necessity, not an option. It enables everyone, without exception, to enjoy a wide range of rights and freedoms.

Through our actions, we strive to ensure that no one is excluded in the digital environment. This is important not only in the context of the EAA but also from the perspective of equality and fundamental human rights.

We encourage everyone who identifies with our vision of an accessible world and the demands expressed in the Accessibility Commandments to share the content of the Manifesto.