Breaking barriers: Learnings from the IAAP Nordic Accessibility Event

We shared knowledge, personal stories, and thought-provoking discussions on a variety of topics – from legislation and user experience to live testing and corporate accessibility success stories, offering valuable insights and real-world applications. You can find the speakers and recordings at the bottom of this page.

5 key takeaways from the event

1. Different industries are progressing at different speeds. While some companies are making noticeable progress in accessibility, others, especially in e-commerce, still have a long way to go. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into effect on 28 June 2025 will be a major turning point, encouraging more organizations to prioritize accessible products and services.
2. AI and the potential of developing AI agents provide exciting opportunities for the of accessibility. Emerging technologies can become more adaptive and assistive for various users, but it’s important to remain mindful of potential biases in these technologies to ensure they serve all users equally.
3. Accessibility is more than assistive technologies. While ensuring compatibility with assistive devices is important, true accessibility also involves usability, cognitive accessibility, and providing users with meaningful choices that meet diverse needs.
4. The supervising authorities across Europe have differences in regulations, from warnings and penalty orders in Finland to heavy daily fines in Norway. However, their primary goal is to guide organizations towards creating equitable digital services. Companies need clearer guidance on accessibility laws from the government bodies to ensure compliance and harmonization across EU member states.
5. There is a growing demand for accessibility expertise and certified professionals in organizations. Becoming an organizational member of IAAP can help companies build in-house accessibility competence and drive sustainable progress.

Learnings on how to design an inclusive event

The event was thoughtfully designed with inclusion at its core, featuring sign language interpreters, live captions, and accessible spaces. It set a strong example of how all events, regardless of the topic, should prioritize accessibility in their planning and execution.

It was particularly valuable to showcase an e-commerce case at the event, emphasizing how the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is changing the landscape and will impact businesses. Bringing real-world examples like this draws attention from other players in the field and demonstrates the practical implications of accessibility requirements. Seeing how different industries are adapting can inspire further action and encourage more businesses to prioritize accessibility.

The workshops were a standout success, fostering open and informal discussions among experts, industry leaders, monitoring agencies, and newcomers interested in accessibility. These sessions created a welcoming space for meaningful knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

5 steps for building the foundation for accessibility

This event truly highlighted the importance of community, collaboration, and the power of shared knowledge. Accessibility is not just about mastering technical skills, it’s about advocating for equality, empowering individuals, and driving meaningful, lasting change in the way we design, develop, and deliver services.

It reminded us that accessibility should not be an afterthought but a fundamental part of every process and practice. To continue building momentum, we need to:

1. Challenge outdated industry norms and strive for innovation that includes everyone.
2. Recruit people with disabilities and actively involve them in the process of creating accessible products with excellent usability. Their firsthand experience and insights are invaluable in ensuring truly inclusive design. As the saying goes: "nothing about us, without us."
3. Amplify the voices of underrepresented communities to ensure their perspectives are heard and valued.
4. Integrate accessibility into the foundation of we create, making it an essential part of our work.
5. Normalize the conversation around accessibility, weaving it into all disciplines and practices in order to drive a sustainable change.

The speakers of IAAP event with links to recordings:

• Lars Lindberg from the Nordic Welfare Centre shared exciting research on digital exclusion and new projects on AI and accessibility in the workplace. Recording: IAAP NORDIC Keynote Digital inclusion in the Nordic region Lars Lindberg
• Olivia Dahl, a sociologist and researcher, explored disability, identity, and inclusion through collective poetry writing. Her story deeply resonated with the audience, including those who may not have personal experience with cerebral palsy. Recording: IAAP NORDIC User perspective I dream of being a transformer Olivia Dahl
• Didem Uguz from H&M shared how accessibility work can grow within a global organization. She explained how a small group of passionate people started making an impact and, through awareness and perseverance, transformed it into a movement for organizational change. Recording: IAAP NORDIC Advancing Accessibility at H&M, A Journey of Progress Didem Uguz
• Eeva-Jonna Panula conducted an impressive live accessibility testing demo, showcasing how to use the Google Accessibility Scanner to identify real-world accessibility issues in mobile apps. She highlighted that many mobile apps face very similar accessibility challenges. Recording: IAAP NORDIC Is this app accessible Live testing demo! Eeva Jonna Panula
• Hanna Adolfsson shared a powerful personal story on cognitive accessibility and what makes design truly inclusive and effortless for all users. Her talk reinforced why designing for the “average” user means designing for no one, and why accessibility must accommodate all types of users. Recording: IAAP NORDIC User perspective Don’t make me think! Hanna Adolfsson
• The Legal Panel with Rebecka Marie Nilsen, Eetu Komsi, Carmen Butler and Aleksas Žalpys sparked big discussions on upcoming European Accessibility Act (EAA) and enforcement across different EU countries, including Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania. Recording: IAAP NORDIC European Accessibility Act – the legal perspective
• The Tech Giants Panel with Aapo Latvala (Microsoft), Christopher Patnoe (Google) and Neil Milliken (Atos) explored the future of accessibility and emerging technologies that can become more adaptive and assistive for various users. Recording: IAAP NORDIC Tech giants panel The future of accessibility - YouTube
• The final discussion with Malin Hammarberg (IAAP Nordic), Annika Valtari (Eficode), Nadia Törnroos (Tietoevry) and Timo Övermark (Q-factory) focused on the growing demand for accessibility expertise and the importance of certified professionals in organizations. Recording: IAAP NORDIC IAAP Nordic update and panel discussion - YouTube

Accessibility should be the starting point when designing digital services. Read more about Tietoevry Create’s take on accessibility here.