Business Accessibility Forum
Budget
€50 — €0
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
2
1 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
Business Accessibility Forum (BAF) is a European cross-sector platform connecting over 30 companies including Microsoft, Allegro, Orange, InPost, Rossmann, and many banks (BNP, Santander, Credit Agricole) around accessibility implementation and European Accessibility Act (EAA) compliance. BAF bridges the gap between industry, regulators, and persons with disabilities organizations, ensuring that business perspectives are integrated with the lived experience of people with disabilities. At national level, BAF has established a proven Trialog model bringing together regulatory authorities, business representatives, and civil society in Poland, drafting policy recommendations adopted by the Polish Accessibility Council.
EU Legislative Interests
European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) - implementation and delegated/implementing acts; Web Accessibility Directive (Directive 2016/2102); EN 301 549 harmonised standard for ICT accessibility; Commission implementing decisions on EAA product and service requirements; National transposition measures of EAA across EU Member States; Accessibility requirements in public procurement (Directive 2014/24/EU); Digital services accessibility under Digital Services Act.
Communication Activities
PUBLICATIONS: "EAA Implementation Report 2025" Part I Beyond Compliance published November 2025 at Forum Dostępności conference (see: https://baforum.pl/a,198,beyond-compliance-the-eaa-implementation-report-part-one-landscape-and-progress); Part II publication mid-February 2026 - the first comprehensive European report on EAA implementation based on interviews with ILO, IAAP, EDF, Zero Project and major stakeholders. Report: Digital Accessibility in Polish Business 2023 (see: https://baforum.pl/2023/) Podcast series "Dostępność przy mikrofonie" (Accessibility at the Microphone): episodes on EAA business implications, plain language, financial sector accessibility with BLIK and Financial Ombudsman (6 episodes, 2025). POLICY WORK: Monthly participation in EAA Working Group (Trialog format) bringing together market surveillance authorities (ministries, financial ombudsman etc.), business and disability organizations. BAF co-authored Recommendations No. 1-6 for Polish Accessibility Act implementation, officially adopted by Resolution of the National Accessibility Council (Rada Dostępności) in July 2025 and published by PFRON as supervisory authority (etc. see: https://dostepnosc.pfron.org.pl/dostepnosc-produktow-i-uslug/nadzor-rynku/wytyczne-i-dobre-praktyki). Ongoing work on Recommendations No. 7-10. EU-LEVEL EVENTS: "BAF in Brussels: Inauguration of a New Era of Accessibility in Europe" (July 2025); Conference "Equality, Europe!" organized by Polish Chancellery during Polish EU Council Presidency (July 2025); IAAP European Workshop on harmonised standard EN 301 549 (May 2025). Annual meeting of the National Coalitions for Digital Skills and Jobs (July 2024), NATIONAL EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS: Ministry of Funds Conference "Włączamy dostępność" on EAA business implications (June 2025); CMO Summit at META on EAA as competitive advantage (June 2025); Mobile Trends Conference on EAA impact on mobile applications (March 2025); Plain Language Days "No accessibility without comprehensibility" (July 2025); FOB Webinar on Polish Accessibility Act (June 2025). MEMBER ENGAGEMENT: Monthly BAF member meetings with workshops (topics: plain language, accessible documents, ESG and accessibility, PFRON supervision). BAF Advisory Council (Rada Konsultacyjna) monthly meetings since August 2025 with Santander Bank Polska. Growing membership: InPost, YES Jewellery, Credit Agricole, BLIK, Rossmann joined in 2025.
Interests Represented
Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Member Of
OFFICIAL BODIES: - EAA Implementation Working Group at the National Accessibility Council (Rada Dostępności) - Polish government advisory body - Diversity & Inclusion Committee at Polish Bank Association (Związek Banków Polskich / ZBP) BUSINESS & CSR NETWORKS: - Forum Odpowiedzialnego Biznesu (FOB) / Responsible Business Forum Poland - National Coalition for Digital Skills and Jobs (EU initiative) - Diversity Charter Poland (Karta Różnorodności) - signatory We're in close cooperation with: - European Disability Forum (EDF) - International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) - Zero Project / Essl Foundation - ILO Global Business and Disability Network FOUNDING ORGANIZATION: - Fundacja Widzialni (the Visibles Foundation) - BAF was established by this leading Polish accessibility NGO
Organisation Members
FOUNDING MEMBERS: Fundacja Widzialni (the Visibles), Microsoft, Orange, Santander, Allegro MEMBERS BNP Paribas, ING Bank Śląski, PKO BP, InPost, BLIK, Rossmann, Credit Agricole, Velo Bank, YES, LOT Polish Airlines, mBank, Lux Med, Nationale Nederlanden, Alior, Polish Bank Association and more. Full member list available at: https://baforum.pl/about-us,1098#subpage-1112
Additional Information
BAF (Business Accessibility Forum) operates as a platform without separate legal personality, established in 2022 within the framework of Fundacja Widzialni (the Visibles). Fundacja Widzialni handles BAF's financial operations. The financial data provided relates specifically to BAF's EU-related advocacy activities, not to the overall budget of Fundacja Widzialni. BAF is funded through annual membership fees paid by member companies. BAF does not receive EU grants and does not engage external intermediaries for lobbying activities. Cost estimates include: staff time dedicated to EU policy work, participation in European events and conferences, preparation of EAA Implementation Report, and coordination of international stakeholder consultations.
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.