The European Disability Forum (EDF) has presented its views on the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on the accessibility of public sector bodies’ websites, including those of municipality services, education, and healthcare.
The Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of The Council on the accessibility of public sector bodies’ websites aims to make public sector websites in the European Union more accessible for people with disabilities.
After analysing the proposed Directive, the EDF considers that the current scope of the proposal is too restrictive and should be broadened to include all public bodies’ websites providing services directly to the public, such as schools, universities, libraries, employment services, health care services and public transport, in line with Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The EDF also considers that a binding enforcement mechanism and an efficient monitoring system, involving people with disabilities and their representative organisations, should be included to ensure that the websites concerned are really accessible.
The EDF position paper aims to bring full EU implementation of the UNCRPD, and to test the European Commission’s real commitment to this aim.
The European Disability Forum is the umbrella organisation representing 80 million people with a range of disabilities in Europe. Autism-Europe is a member of the European Disability Forum and works in collaboration with EDF to advocate for the rights of people with autism.