Accessibility, inclusivity and WCAG guidelines are extremely important for proper access to vital services online. But we all also deserve to be amused, surprised and yes, delighted by the web! I'm looking to stimulate discussion on how we can lift the accessibility bar off the floor of basic functionality, up towards more fun stuff.

Accessibility is often treated as a final checkbox at the end of a sprint, if there’s time. But by then, it’s usually too late. With the European Accessibility Act coming into force this month, it’s no longer just a best practice - it’s a legal requirement for many digital products and services. This talk shares practical tips for integrating accessibility into each stage of an agile process: from product, design and engineering. Learn how to shift left on accessibility to reduce risk, avoid costly rework, and build inclusive experiences that comply with the law and serve everyone better.

18:15 - 19:00

AI is reshaping the modern workplace — but the real question is for whom?

In this talk, Senior Staff Engineer Artur Ortega argues that the true power of AI isn’t in boosting productivity or automating tasks—it’s in tearing down the barriers that have kept disabled people excluded for far too long.

Drawing from decades of experience building complex systems across healthcare, media, and hyperlocal logistics—and as an early contributor to the W3C’s accessibility standards—Artur explores how new tools like Model Customization Platforms (MCPs) and natural language interfaces are making it possible to interact with systems in more human, flexible, and accessible ways.

But this isn’t about “fixing” disabled people. This isn’t about brain implants or seeing disability as a tech challenge. It’s about fixing the world—one that was designed to exclude. By applying AI through the lens of Vibe Coding —the emotional and cognitive feel of interacting with systems—Artur makes the case for a radically inclusive digital workplace: one where accessibility isn’t the afterthought, it’s the architecture.

This talk explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the future of accessibility, challenging conventional skepticism with historical examples of technological underestimation. It covers current and emerging AI applications in assistive technology, prosthetics, brain-computer interfaces, medical diagnostics, regenerative medicine, autonomous vehicles, and ubiquitous computing.

The speaker emphasizes that AI’s shortcomings today are temporary, and rapid advances are already reshaping possibilities for people with disabilities—enabling autonomy, personalized support, and full societal participation. Ultimately, the talk calls for accessibility professionals to evolve with AI, embracing leadership, strategy, and ethical innovation to ensure that AI-driven progress is inclusive by design.

Making companies care about accessibility is a tough problem. One of the sticks we have is regulation and compliance with laws. Currently there is a new EU regulation coming up and we'll discuss what that means for implementers and how it could affect implementations.

Léonie is co-Founder and Director of TetraLogical; Chair of the W3C Board of Directors, and co-Chair of the W3C Web Applications Working Group. She's also co-organiser of the Inclusive Design 24 (#id24) conference; and co-author of the Inclusive Design Principles and the Do No Harm Guide: Centering accessibility in data visualization.