Workshop 6.1: Digital Accessibility – Challenges and Opportunities

This interactive session explores the critical importance of digital accessibility, focusing on how to create inclusive digital products and services that can be used by everyone, regardless of ability. Participants will gain insights into the key principles of accessible design, the most common barriers faced by users with disabilities, and how to identify and remove them.

Accessibility experts will outline current legal and regulatory frameworks (such as the European Accessibility Act/Barrierefreiheitsgesetz in Austria and the WCAG guidelines), present accessibility research projects, share real-world examples of best (and worst) practices and provide practical tips for embedding accessibility into your digital workflows from design and development to testing and content creation.

The workshop is ideal for UX/UI designers, developers, content creators, marketing managers, product managers and compliance officers who are looking to enhance usability, meet legal obligations and future-proof their digital offerings in an increasingly inclusive digital landscape.

Key topics include:

• Why accessibility matters: ethical, legal and business perspectives
• Understanding diverse user needs (visual, auditory, cognitive and motor impairments, elderly people)
• Common accessibility pitfalls – and how to avoid them
• Accessibility as a driver for innovation and user-centric design

What you can expect:

• Overview about current legal situation in Austria
• Presentation of current accessibility research projects and studies
• Real-life case studies showcasing both successful and failed accessibility efforts
• An open dialogue with accessibility experts to address your specific challenges and questions

Key benefits:

• Get insights and tips from top accessibility experts
• Improve usability for all users - not just those with disabilities
• Reduce legal and compliance risks under current and upcoming regulations

Who will inspire you:

• Jaison Puthenkalam, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Center for Technology Experience, Research Engineer
• Werner Rosenberger, Austrian Association in Support of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Access Austria, WACA
• Christine Wahlmüller-Schiller, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Center for Technology Experience, Marketing & Communications

All three speakers are members of the Special Interest Group Accessibility in ICT of the Austrian Association of Software Innovation (VÖSI)