Karolina Mendecka
Budget
€10 — €0
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
1
0.25 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
Independent expert and advocate representing the common interests of persons with disabilities and businesses in effective implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA). PhD in law (University of Łódź), LLM in International Human Rights (Lund University). Director of Business Accessibility Forum (BAF), a European platform connecting 30+ companies on accessibility implementation. Legal counsel at Fundacja Widzialni. Assistant Professor at University of Łódź, Faculty of Law and Administration, teaching Legal Theory and ADR. Co-author of the legal commentary to the Polish Accessibility Act (C.H. Beck publishers). Member of EAA Implementation Working Group at the Polish National Accessibility Council. Co-author of EAA policy recommendations adopted by official government resolution. Bridging disability community needs with business implementation through Trialog dialogue format. Research focus: accessibility as a fundamental human right, intersectionality, EAA implementation.
EU Legislative Interests
European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) - implementation, delegated acts, and implementing acts; Web Accessibility Directive (Directive 2016/2102); EN 301 549 harmonised standard for ICT accessibility; National transposition of EAA across EU Member States; Accessibility requirements in Single Market legislation; UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) implementation in EU law; Intersection of accessibility with consumer protection and digital services regulation.
Communication Activities
PUBLICATIONS: Co-author of "EAA Implementation Report 2025" Part I (November 2025) and Part II (February 2026) - first comprehensive European report on EAA implementation based on interviews with ILO, IAAP, EDF, Zero Project. Co-author of EAA Policy Recommendations No. 1-6 adopted by Polish National Accessibility Council (July 2025). Academic publications on accessibility law and human rights. POLICY WORK: Member of EAA Implementation Working Group at National Accessibility Council (Rada Dostępności). Monthly participation in Trialog meetings between market surveillance authority (PFRON), business and disability organizations. Contributed to Polish Accessibility Act transposition process. EVENTS: Speaker at "Equality, Europe!" conference (Polish EU Council Presidency, July 2025); "BAF in Brussels: Inauguration of a New Era of Accessibility in Europe" (July 2025); ZeroCon conferences; IAAP European Workshop on EN 301 549 standard; Ministry of Funds conference "Włączamy dostępność"; Multiple national conferences on EAA implementation for business. ACADEMIC: Teaching accessibility law at University of Łódź; Participation in Blended Intensive Programmes across European universities.
Interests Represented
Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Member Of
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: - Business Accessibility Forum (BAF) - Director (https://baforum.pl) - Fundacja Widzialni (the Visibles Foundation) - Legal Counsel - University of Łódź, Faculty of Law and Administration - Assistant Professor - Legal Counsel (radca prawny) registered with Katowice District Chamber of Legal Advisers and Katowice District Bar Council (adwokat, non-practising) and Katowice POLICY BODIES: - EAA Implementation Working Group at National Accessibility Council (Rada Dostępności) - Diversity & Inclusion Committee at Polish Bank Association (ZBP)
Organisation Members
Not applicable - individual expert registration.
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.