Growing Stronger in Accessibility: Meet Lina, a IAAP-certified Accessibility Professional (CPACC)

About Lina

More than the past ten years, Lina lived and worked in Portugal, focusing on UX design and front-end development. It was there that she first encountered web accessibility – and it quickly became a passion. From building websites for the public sector to contributing to Design Systems as a front-end developer, Lina has gained hands-on experience improving digital accessibility.

She joins our certified accessibility team, holding the CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies) credential from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) — the same organization through which our Co-Founder and Lead Accessibility Specialist, Indre Karlove, recently became the first in Lithuania to earn the advanced WAS (Web Accessibility Specialist) certification. Together, they strengthen our ongoing commitment to accessibility at every level.

Before transitioning into the web space, Lina built a strong foundation in communications in Lithuania, supported by a degree in Journalism.

“For many people, software development or web development might seem very different from communications. But in fact, they have a lot in common. I find accessibility especially closely connected to communications, because both are fundamentally about enabling people to connect, understand, and participate – regardless of their abilities, background, or circumstances,” says Lina.

Why Accessibility is Important?

A few years ago, Lina experienced a life-threatening accident while traveling in Ethiopia. During her recovery, physical accessibility became essential – and she quickly saw the parallels with digital accessibility.

“The first time I had to travel from Portugal to Lithuania after the accident, doing it alone simply wasn’t possible. I needed a wheelchair, constant assistance, and a lot of planning. Today my situation is completely different, I can travel independently when needed – and I remember which services and products were accessible back then and I notice accessibility around me, I stay loyal to accessible brands and keep spending money on them", tells her story Lina.

"The same goes for digital products. More people are aging, and disabilities – whether permanent, temporary, or situational – affect us all at some point. Accessible digital services lead to happier, more loyal users, enhance your brand image – as shown when Beyoncé faced a lawsuit over her website’s inaccessibility – and drive real innovation. Voice assistants, for example, were originally designed as accessibility tools,” says Lina.

We also invite you to read our interview with Andzejus Ravanas, Accessibility Specialist and Advocate for the Blind, who shares why he is willing to pay more for services and products that are accessible.

Commitment Over Convenience

At June / Karlove, we are committed not only to providing accessibility services – from audits to strategic consulting – but also to educating our clients and the wider community.

With the European Accessibility Act now in place (you can read more about its business impact in this earlier article), we have seen a rise in the use of accessibility widgets and overlays on websites. These might seem like an easy fix – but they are not. They are shortcuts that are best avoided.

Hundreds of accessibility specialists have spoken out against overlays. They don’t solve the core accessibility issues and won’t protect your business from legal action – as we explain in our article Why "You Should Avoid Using Accessibility Overlays".

“I’m happy to join June / Karlove because I see it as a place where I can fully realise myself as a professional, while still learning and growing. One of the first things I noticed was that this agency doesn’t stay on the surface or look for shortcuts – it dives deep into the real work of accessibility. I’m proud to be part of that and to help others navigate the digital accessibility space,” says Lina.