On 16 April 2026, the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation (CIP) at the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (P.PORTO) took part in another session of the TDW Café series, organised by ESMAD’s Bachelor’s Degree in Web Information Technologies and Systems, dedicated to the theme “Web Accessibility and Inclusive Design”.
The session featured presentations by Bárbara Veiga, senior technician at P.PORTO’s CIP, and Sofia Freitas, Front-End Developer at SKREY, as guest speakers. The main aim of the initiative was to raise students’ awareness of the importance of digital accessibility and inclusive design in the development of web solutions, against a backdrop of increasingly stringent legal requirements at European level.
During her presentation, Bárbara Veiga framed the concept of digital accessibility as an essential dimension of inclusion, highlighting the impact of digital barriers on access to information and the need to integrate universal design principles from the earliest stages of conception. Best practices in accessible development were also discussed, including the semantic structuring of content, the use of alternative text for images, keyboard navigation and ensuring adequate contrast.
As part of the presentation, specific examples were also shared of initiatives developed by the CIP at P.PORTO that incorporate these principles, namely PlurALL, the Digital HUB and the future Teaching and Learning Support Laboratory, planned as part of the INOV-NORTE project. These projects reflect the institution’s commitment to promoting inclusion, accessibility and well-being in higher education through the development of resources, communities of practice and support infrastructure.
The session included an interactive session with students, focusing on the practical application of the concepts presented, given that the projects being developed within the course module are aimed at audiences with specific needs, such as ADHD, anxiety, burnout, colour blindness, dyslexia and Williams syndrome.
The participation of the CIP of P.PORTO in this initiative reinforces its role in promoting innovative and inclusive teaching practices, contributing to the training of future professionals who are more aware of the social and ethical dimensions associated with technological development.