21st century public transport: People with disabilities face discrimination

The European Accessibility Act, the proposed law that would make products and services in the EU more accessible for persons with disabilities, is a unique opportunity for Europe, writes Catherine Naughton.

Catherine Naughton is the director of the European Disability Forum, an umbrella NGO representing some 80 million people with disabilities across Europe.

Not only will it give EU businesses the chance to take the lead on the world market for accessible products and services. It will also and more importantly start to pave the way for all EU citizens to participate in society on an equal basis with others.

The proposal of the European Commission does not bring up something unreasonable or even anything particularly new, it is rather a means to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that the EU and all its members states – except  Ireland – have already ratified. (...)