A webinar to inspire action for digital accessibility in the national education system
In summer 2024, we saw a gap. While digital learning was expanding rapidly, awareness of accessibility standards in Lithuania’s education sector lagged behind. At the same time, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania (ŠMSM), together with its public body the National Agency for Education (NŠA) and the EdTech Centre, were looking to build knowledge and practical skills in this area.
That shared need became an opportunity. We initiated — and delivered pro bono — a webinar designed to bridge the knowledge gap, spark dialogue, and clarify what digital accessibility truly is (and what it is not). We explored how accessibility should be achieved, what it means in the context of the Ministry and its public bodies, and — most importantly — how to inspire concrete action, from improving procurement practices to raising the overall quality of digital platforms.
The challenge ahead
Accessibility in education was still too often framed as a “special needs” issue rather than a universal quality standard. To move forward, stakeholders — from ministry officials to platform developers — needed both clarity on EU requirements and a clear sense of how accessibility plays out in real platforms. The challenge was to make accessibility tangible, relevant, and actionable for all.
How we approached it
We hosted a remote seminar for the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania (ŠMSM), the National Agency for Education (NŠA), and its EdTech Centre. Together with our collaborator, blind accessibility expert Andzejus Ravanas, we brought accessibility to life through a mix of technical insights, first-hand experience, and practical examples
The session unfolded in three parts:
- Setting the foundation — We explained what digital accessibility really means, why it matters in education, and how it is embedded in EU standards and UX principles.
- First-hand perspective — Andzejus demonstrated assistive technologies in action, showing both the challenges and the opportunities they create for users.
- Real-world case study — We reviewed the old homepage of emokykla.lt, a platform managed by NŠA, highlighting common accessibility pitfalls such as over-reliance on “accessibility plugins” and structural issues that affect navigation and usability.
The presentation concluded with a lively 30-minute Q&A session, where participants engaged directly with us on how accessibility can be better integrated into policy, procurement, and platform design.
What changed
The impact was immediate. Many participants from the ŠMSM, NŠA and EdTech Centras left with a broader, more practical understanding of accessibility — not just as a legal requirement, but as an essential part of product quality.
The seminar also became a turning point. Inspired by the case study, NŠA returned to us to help with a redesign of emokykla.lt education platform, as well as full accessibility evaluations and implementation. What began as a pro bono initiative evolved into a longer-term collaboration, ensuring that accessibility was no longer a side note but a core design principle.
Looking ahead
With each step, accessibility is moving from the margins to the mainstream in Lithuania’s education sector. This webinar showed how even a single initiative can spark lasting change. Once people see what’s possible, they are ready to build it — and we’re committed to continuing that journey together.
