Demystifying Digital Accessibility and Fostering Inclusive Mindsets. Compliance with the European Standard for Digital Accessibility EN 301 549

Abstract

Accessibility, the right to equal opportunities for all citizens, is defined in Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Furthermore, Article 21 of the same convention details how the accessibility of information and communications should be ensured in practice. As a result of the convention, international, European and national policies, standards and law have been established, creating a legal and binding framework for compliance. On this basis, this paper considers the goals of the IMPACT (Inclusive Method based on the Perception of Accessibility and Compliance Testing) project. This project aims to define the skills and competencies that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) accessibility educators and mediators should hold for compliance. The paper looks to discuss how to demystify accessibility compliance and, in doing so, how to foster inclusive mindsets through training practices and the European Certification and Qualification Association (ECQA) certification, while noting challenges for audiences and stakeholders. The experience of Koena, a French social enterprise specializing in Digital Accessibility, forms the basis for the paper’s observations.