SAGA - CEN-CENELEC

In 2011, the CEN/BT/Working Group 213 ‘Strategic Advisory Group on Accessibility’ (SAGA) was created by the CEN Technical Board (BT), in line with the CEN policy on horizontal issues in standardization, and with the full participation of representatives of the CENELEC/BT and ETSI Board.

SAGA is an advisory and coordinating body to the CEN and CENELEC BTs on political and strategic matters related to ‘Accessibility’. It does not develop standardization deliverables. SAGA members include representatives of National Standards Bodies (CEN), National Committees (CENELEC) and ETSI, as well as organizations representing persons with disabilities and older people.

SAGA ensures that accessibility is addressed in accordance with the strategic objectives of the European standardization system and provides recommendations to this end. It represents the main source of knowledge and expertise on accessibility issues for the CEN and CENELEC BTs.

SAGA was specifically in charge of monitoring the execution of Mandate M/473 related to Accessibility following a Design for All approach.

SAGA Brochure

In order to help guide standardizers, SAGA has created a simple brochure ‘How to address accessibility in standardization’, which covers the material available to standardizers to help address accessibility in their work. The brochure clearly outlines who each document is relevant for, i.e. technical committees or organizations and how to use it.

SAGA will work within three major areas in 2020-2022:

Continue to promote the design for all (M/473) approach
Continue to raise awareness of accessibility issues in European standardization
Standardization in support of the European Accessibility Act (EAA)

In addition, SAGA promotes best practices, helps raise awareness of accessibility when new standards are developed or existing standards are revised; follows any EU and national legislative and policy initiatives and promotes any new relevant initiatives in the field of ‘Accessibility’.