A laptop on a desk, demonstrating the international disability sign

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Translation of the original text in Greek: Giorgos Lyberis

Article by Philemon Kalamitsos

Mandatory from 23/09/2020 throughout Europe

The public sector across the EU is supposed to enforce the Web Accessibility Directive and make public websites accessible to people with disabilities. Today is considered a turning point for internet users with disabilities.

Today, 5 million people with disabilities in the EU do not use the internet due to some form of disability. According to the directive, all users should be able to perceive, operate and comprehend public domain websites, the content of which should be designed in a way that can be interpreted by assistive technologies such as screen readers.

Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President responsible for a Europe fit for the digital age, stated: “Our daily life is increasingly dependent on digital solutions, and for many people, the web is an integral part of everyday life. Technology should function for people. For this reason, we want to ensure that all citizens have access to digital public services.”

Thierry Breton, the current Commissioner responsible for the Internal Market, added: “In the context of digital transformation, the accessibility of the world wide web responds to the growing needs of society, as the average age of the European population increases and more and more essential services are transferred to the internet during the coronavirus pandemic. All Europeans should be able to benefit from technology and what it offers to society.”

After the public sector websites, the next step concerns the mobile applications of public organizations, which should be accessible from June 2021.

Source: epirusonline. gr

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