The APACE project organizes the European Accessibility Summer School, a two-day experience where publishing professionals, accessibility experts and key stakeholders come together to shape the future of inclusive publishing. The event will take place at Villa La Torrossa, Fiesole (Florence) on June 26th and 27th.

What to expect

In a highly interactive setting, the European Accessibility Summer School will offer the opportunity to:

• Explore key aspects of accessibility in publishing, working alongside all players in the accessibility value chain
• Participate in hands-on sessions and collaborative discussions with peers
• Engage in practical learning experiences designed to foster innovation and real-world impact

AGENDA

DAY ONE

9:00 Registration

Welcome

Video Greetings

Georg Hauesler, Director for Culture, Creativity and Sport in the European Commission (DG EAC)

Icebreaker

Elisa Molinari, Project manager APACE

Round table “The European Accessibility Act is here. Now what?”

• Inmaculada Placencia Porrero, Senior Expert in Disability and Inclusion at Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission (video presentation)
• Cristina Mussinelli, Secretary General Fondazione LIA
• Kristina Kramer, Deputy Director for European and International Affairs Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels
• Moderator: Porter Anderson, Editor in Chief Publishing Perspectives

10:45 – 11:30 Networking Break

Beyond compliance and checklists: how to build a culture of accessibility

• Alessandra Porcelli, Strategic Publishing Consultant & Learning Consultant Mondadori Education’s Accessibility PMO
• Stacy Scott, Head of Accessibility Taylor&Francis
• Tobias Giversen, Digital Project Manager Politikens
• Moderator: Porter Anderson, Editor in Chief Publishing Perspectives

Nobody puts accessibility in a corner

• Gregorio Pellegrino, Chief Accessibility Officer Fondazione LIA

13:00 – 14:30 Lunch

Round table “European publishers and their roadmap towards accessibility”

• Leena Rautjärvi, Publication Specialist Helsinki University Press
• Miia Kirsi, Accessibility Specialist Celia
• Alisa Žarkova, Head of Publishing Department Lithuanian Audiosensory Library
• Moderator: Porter Anderson, Editor in Chief Publishing Perspectives

Pitch your accessibility pain

Wrestling with a tricky accessibility issue? This session is your space to speak up. Bring your real-world questions, challenges, and sticking points. We’ll tackle them together breaking down the toughest problems and tapping into the collective experience of peers and experts. No challenge too small, no question too specific. Let’s turn pain into progress!

• Pitch your accessibility pain about production of accessible contents
• Pitch your accessibility pain about image description

16:15-17:00 Networking Break

Wrap up of tables and closing remarks

Day Two

9:00 Recap of Day One

Keynote speech about accessibility metadata

• Chris Saynor, Standards editor EDItEUR

Round table “Mainstreaming accessible distribution”

• Nina Rubach, Senior Platform Product Manager Bookwire
• Virginie Bouilhac, Director, Content Management Kobo
• Dani Molina, Operation and Support Specialist De Marque
• Bruna Benvegnù, Senior Product Manager, Books Publisher Experience at Amazon
• Moderator: Porter Anderson, Editor in Chief Publishing Perspectives

11:00 – 11:30 Networking Break

Accessible ebooks at readers’ fingertips. How do accessible ebooks reach readers?

• Gautier Chomel, Project manager European Digital Reading Lab

Libraries: where accessibility happens

• Francesco Pandini, Project manager Medialibraryonline
• Luisa Gaggini, Head of e-Content and Partners Relations Casalini libri
• Moderator: Porter Anderson, Editor in Chief Publishing Perspectives

13:00 – 14:30 Lunch

Round table “Accessible platforms and where to find them”

• Paolo Casarini, IT Director Il Mulino
• Paolo Pancaldi, Full Stack Developer Il Mulino
• Francesca Avanzini, Digital Project Manager Sanoma Italia
• Moderator: Porter Anderson, Editor in Chief Publishing Perspectives

Pitch your accessibility pain

• Pitch your accessibility pain about how to assure the quality of your production and distribution flows: Quality Assurance, tools, display of accessibility metadata
• Pitch your accessibility pain about the cost of accessibility: investments, disproportionate burden, backlist, conversion

16:15-17:00 Networking break

17:00 Wrap-up and closing remark

The spots available are limited. If you are interested in participating, please contact us by sending an email to: apace@fondazionelia.org

The event is organized in the framework of APACE, co-founded by the European Union