In April of this year, the Parliament adopted the Law on ensuring the compliance of business entities with the requirements for the availability of certain products and services. It's about making products and services easier for everyone. This act is an EU directive called the European Access Act. This is the next step in building an accessible and inclusive society. Applications that read written texts, voice commands on smartphones, subtitles for movies, voice information at railway stations – for companies it is innovation and increased profits, for society it is an element that makes everyday life easier. – The main assumption is that the availability of some – it should be emphasized – some products and services, but for all people. This applies to selected industries such as banking, transport and audiovisual services, explained Dr. Krzysztof Kurowski, chairman of the Polish Forum of People with Disabilities. – What is the status of this type of service today? – asked the host Pavel Pavlovsky. – Very different. These can be very prosaic things like paying at a restaurant. A blind person has to wonder what kind of terminal the restaurant has, whether it's a keyboard terminal that he can operate better or a touch screen terminal that he can't use. This is usually good, but a person who goes to a bank, restaurant or store is never sure what possible obstacles they will encounter, explained Dr. Kurowski. – The great importance of this document is that it speaks horizontally about very different needs, and I think it is important for businesses to be aware that the needs are very different and some of them are not the first in our opinion about access. . This is an opportunity for business, explained the head of the forum of disabled people in Poland. The new regulations should enter into force on June 25, 2025. Who monitors their performance? What other business opportunities does universal design offer? More on this later in the conversation. The material was developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and Regional Policy from the Regional Development Fund.
