MAIN TRACK TALK

Testing for Inclusion: The European Accessibility Act and the Future of Software Quality

While US clients generally understand the legal risks of inaccessible websites, accessibility testing for EU-based clients has often been overlooked. This is set to change with the European Accessibility Act (EAA). This directive aims to improve accessibility within the EU market, requiring services like passenger transport, banking, and e-commerce to adhere to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Are we prepared for this shift?

Joanna Falkowska’s talk will provide a concise overview of the European Accessibility Act (EAA). She’ll guide you to key resources, clarify which products and services are covered by the new directive, outline the consequences of non-compliance, and offer practical first steps for those new to accessibility.

What you’ll learn

Session details

Joanna Falkowska

Joanna graduated from the faculty of English studies and worked as an interpreter and teacher of English for the first few years after her studies. Then, she moved to the IT industry, where she started as a junior QA and gradually advanced to senior positions. Throughout her career, she has worked for software houses catering for the needs of small start-ups as well as big, international corporations. Already during her studies she paid attention to the community of people with disabilities, supporting blind students at her faculty and later teaching English to the Deaf adults. When she moved to the IT, developing skills in accessibility testing has become a natural path to continue her interests.