A new chapter in accessibility
Bianca Prins, CPACC
Global Head of Accessibility @ ING, InCluencer, trailblazer, a11y rockstar & Special Advisor @ Billion Strong
The last #THeIncluencer for this year, what a year it was. I am happy to share that my work moved from awareness to implementation and maintaining awareness. Not everywhere as visible, it surely was a year of change and there is more to come. What is the importance of the coming year and why is it so important to implement change right now.
January 2024, only 18 months till EAA
Before we know it is there, the 28th of June 2025 and then all new product and channels deliveries, including publication of updates of digital products and services, must comply with the EAA. It is interesting to realize how far most banks and businesses are still divided from this state. For these important elements as governance, training, and policies it becomes harder and harder to lean on too few accessibility experts in businesses. Equally without prioritization none of the above can be delivered anyway. And that, the priority, is unfortunate still lacking in most businesses and even in banks.
It is time to move forward, like we did at ING. Moving from awareness, telling people how important disability inclusion and accessibility are for the businesses. To the next phase of implementation, setting policies and governance, so people know what to do, and even more important give people the skills to deliver by providing them with adequate training.
Don’t go cheap!
Especially for the training, I can only recommend not to step in the pitfall to go for the cheapest solution. Because there are many organizations following short, one-off accessibility trainings. These might learn you the basics, but do these training provide you with the toolkit for long term commitment and delivery? Do these trainings provide you with the tools to build your case for extra time to deliver an accessible product or service? Most of them don’t, and that is why I urge to invest in these trainings. Set them not once but assure that you can do a yearly follow-up to check if people still can deliver one year after the training. If not, then they would have to go back to learn what they forgot. This might sound as overkill, it is not. Because you can learn a lot in one day, the application is much more than a one-day course, and this needs to become part of your way of working!
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Combine with governance
Closing off with the most important element, because you can give the people the tools to deliver. These tools will only be as effective as the governance they are used in. Meaning that, you will have to assure that meeting WCAG standards and other controls managing digital accessibility are included in the risk framework and control systems. This will make that your efforts are not just nice certificates for the staff finishing the training, this governance makes that you can deliver accordingly and show this in your business control frameworks for external reference when required. ?
Accessibility in June 2025 is no longer a nice to have, it must be part of your governance, risk and control frameworks, because your business can be held accountable for accessibility by law.
Accessibility is the fast evolving business role to include people?with a disability in business. With LinkedIn #TheIncluencer articles Bianca is sharing insights on accessibility business opportunities, challenges and struggles towards a sustainable and disability inclusive world for all!
Web Accessibility for All ?? @ Monsido powered by Acquia
11 个月Great to know you're putting accessibility into action! Accessibility, like inclusivity, has different meanings, especially when lots of people are involved. How can you make sure everyone gets the main goal and can do it in their work?