We were proud of being part of the online event “Innovation for Accessibility Forum” that was held on 22nd March 2023. Our team helped Microsoft in organizing this online event and informed the public about the significance of this event’s subject. The aim of the event was to gather the representatives of the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian Governments, and Public and Commercial sectors to discuss different initiatives regarding accessible digital solutions, as well as legislation compatibility with the European Accessibility Act.
The Forum was opened by Vaida Sapole Country manager for Baltic region at Microsoft and the keynote speaker Michalis Moschos, Global Partner Solutions Director for Go to Market and Accessibility Lead for Microsoft in Central and Eastern Europe who talked about how technology is developing to provide more accessible opportunities for all people. Moderator of the first panel Esa Kaunistola, Director, Trade and Industrial Policy at Microsoft, European Government Affair; explained the significance of European Accessibility Act (EAA) implementation and what it brings to the Baltics.
Government and public sector representatives from Baltic countries were invited to share their views on accessibility in this panel: Elīna Celmiņa, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Welfare of the Republic of Latvia, Pauls Puķītis, Information and communication technology development policy coordinator, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia, Rasmus Eimla, Product Owner at Riigi Infosüsteemi Amet, Estonian Information System Authority, and Erika Kuročkina, an Adviser to the Minister at the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania. They talked about accessibility solutions they have already adopted or are planning to implement, and how they enable disabilities worldwide to use digital products and services. The panelists discussed what the European Accessibility Act will bring and how the government will help companies adjust their businesses.
Kaspars Kauliņš International Business Development Director from Tilde, Siim Lepisk Head of Innovation from Net Group and Microsoft Development Centre representative Solomiya Branets shared some examples of accessibility solutions and their cooperation with Microsoft at the second panel.
During the Forum, the importance of accessibility matter was recognized, the governments and companies shared their stories, talked about solutions and tools, and about future plans and initiatives. This event gathered more than 50 online participants that actively engaged and asked questions during the panels, The fact that the same number of participants kept throughout the event witnessed the importance of the subject, as well the number of the PR articles published on the matter after the event.
