AXSChat Podcast

The European Accessibility Act is in place, and organizations across the EU and beyond are racing to understand what this landmark legislation means for their products and services. In this timely conversation, accessibility expert Susanna Laurin returns to AXSChat to separate fact from fiction about the European Accessibility Act. Susanna reveals a concerning readiness gap, with European-based companies generally better prepared than their American counterparts who often mistakenly view the EAA through a WCAG-only lens. Large global organizations with established compliance departments have plans in place, while smaller businesses and those in sectors previously untouched by accessibility requirements remain dangerously unaware of their obligations - with just days until implementation begins. The conversation dives into prevalent misconceptions surrounding the EAA, from the false belief that all websites must be accessible to misunderstandings about grace periods and documentation requirements. Susanna cautions against the growing industry of "quick-fix" accessibility solutions and overnight experts offering magical tools that promise compliance with minimal effort. A fascinating geographic divide emerges in the discussion, with Northern and Western European countries demonstrating greater preparedness than their Eastern and Southern counterparts. This pattern mirrors previous implementation experiences with the Web Accessibility Directive and reflects broader differences in accessibility maturity across the continent. Perhaps most concerning is the critical shortage of qualified accessibility professionals, creating a situation where monitoring authorities are competing with private companies to recruit from the same limited talent pool. Susanna makes a compelling case that the long-term solution lies in fundamentally changing how we educate digital professionals, integrating accessibility as a core skill rather than specialized knowledge. Join us for this essential conversation that looks beyond immediate compliance concerns to envision a more sustainable and inclusive digital future for Europe. Whether you're responsible for accessibility in your organization or simply interested in how technology and policy intersect, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the most significant digital accessibility developments in recent years.

Susanna Laurin has a long experience in working with disability-related issues at senior management level, for instance as CEO of one of the subsidiaries of the Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired’s corporate group IRIS, and the Swedish Independent Living Institute. She is a frequent international lecturer and debater and she serves on a number of program committees for conferences in the field of accessibility. At Funka she takes responsibility for major and international assignments, among other for the European Commission, for which Funka at the moment are developing the measuring methodology to be used by the member states if and when the proposed Web Directive will come into action, as well as a number of assignments for the different national governments. Susanna also works on Funka’s internal methodology and quality work and is in responsible for Funka’s close cooperation with end user organizations. Susanna is a member of the board of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, IAAP, a global organization that was co-founded by Funka, and she is also a fellow of the Swedish government’s forum for usability and accessibility in ICT. She is an expert and advisor, both for Swedish Standards Institute and Standards Norway, and furthermore served as technical expert for Mandate 376, that on behalf for the EC developed harmonized requirements for accessibility in public procurement in all EU member states. Susanna was moreover responsible for the authorized translation of WCAG 2.0 into Swedish that Funka carried out on behalf of W3C.

Debra Ruh is a seasoned entrepreneur that focuses on Global Disability Inclusion, ICT Accessibility, EmployAbility, Marketing and Communications Strategies and Digital Media. She has provided global leadership to governments, corporations, NGOs and DPO’s (Disability Persons Organizations) all over the world supporting research, outreach, marketing strategies, policy and standards initiatives with public- and private-sector. Policy, Legislative and Technical Experience includes the United Nations Convention of Rights for People with Disabilities (CRPD), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 503, 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, W3C, WCAG 2.0 and ISO. Debra is also a seasoned Entrepreneur (founder of three firms): Ruh Global Communications, TecAccess, Strategic Performance Solutions. Debra is passionate about Social Media and a Thought Leader and Blogger on ICT Accessibility and Disability Inclusion on social media channels with over 130,000 followers. Social media mediums include Twitter, Linked-In, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, G+ and other platforms. Work featured in major mediums including CBS, CNN, PBS, ABC, NBC, NPR, INC, Publishers Weekly, Fortune Magazine, US News & World Report, America’s Best, Washington Technology, and Bloomberg Business Week.

Rachel is Chief Executive of Go ON UK, the cross-sector digital skills charity that works to ensure all individuals, small businesses and charities in the UK have the basic digital skills they need to prosper in an increasingly digital world. She is also Chair of the Digital Leaders program (http://digitalleaders.co.uk/), a network of digital professionals from a wide range of sectors and disciplines. Rachel is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars in the UK and abroad, a frequent judge of digital awards and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).

Kurt Yaeger (born January 3, 1977) is an American actor, director and professional athlete, who is also a below-the-knee amputee. Kurt Yaeger was born in San Francisco, California, United States (US), and was raised in South San Francisco. He currently resides in the Los Angeles area. As a BMX rider, Yaeger gained the nickname “Crowbar” and acquired sponsors for his BMX riding, participating in tours and competing in events. After experiencing many BMX-related injuries, he decided to go back to college to pursue a Masters degree in hydrogeology. In 2006, while attending school in San Francisco, he was in a motorcycle crash that resulted in multiple injuries. He hit a pole and went over a 40-foot embankment, crashing on the side of the freeway. His left leg was amputated, his right anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament were torn, his pelvis was torn in half along with his bladder, seven vertebra were broken, his lungs collapsed, multiple ribs were broken, and he suffered a severe concussion. One year later, Yaeger made a full recovery, returning to his acting career. Yaeger is involved with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) Tri-Union global disability rights campaign called IAMPWD – Inclusion in the Arts & Media of People with Disabilities. He sits as the Chairperson on the AFTRA Los Angeles Local Performers with Disabilities Committee. In 2012, the US Paralympics Bobsled & Skeleton Team invited him to train with them in Park City in early January. They asked him back to train with them in Innsbruck, Austria in early March. He is currently the number one Adaptive BMXer in the world[16] and participated in X Games 16 and X Games 17. Yaeger was showcased along with other adaptive athletes thanks to Adaptive Action Sports, a non-profit organization promoting Action Sports camps, events and programs for youth and young adults living with permanent physical disabilities. His recent work includes roles on the CBS hit showNCIS and the much anticipated HBO/Cinemax series Quarry.