GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR INCLUSIVE ICTs Promoting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Digital Age ICT Accessibility in the Global Market An Overview of Challenges and Successes in Implementing the CRPD By Axel Leblois President, G3ict European Commission Workshop Making accessibility a reality through market opportunities and legislation 3 February 2017, Brussels www.g3ict.org
G3ict Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs Formed in December 2006 upon adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by the United Nations General Assembly To promote the dispositions of the CRPD on the accessibility of Information and Communication Technologies With the support of UNDESA, the ICT industry, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, Governments, Standards Development Organizations Cooperation with EC programs since inception Slide 2
CRPD: Sets ICT Accessibility Benchmarks for the Digital Age - Ratified by 172 Countries Accessibility is one of eight CRPD principles, a condition for Persons with Disabilities to exercise their rights Article 9 elevates ICT Accessibility obligations on par with those for the built environment and transportation - Covers all interactions with ICTs - Requires States Parties to: Adopt standards Ensure that public and private sector entities implement ICT accessibility for services to the public Promote the usage of new technologies, assistive technologies and the Internet by Persons with Disabilities Multiple CRPD articles reinforce the obligation of ICT accessibility in key sectors of activity (Culture, Television, Education, Employment etc.) Slide 3
Global Score Card for CRPD Implementation: G3ict s CRPD ICT Accessibility Progress Report Systematic measure of global progress of the ICT components of the CRPD In cooperation with Disabled People s International and incountry advocacy organizations 2016: 107 countries surveyed, two questionnaires per country: - Legal experts - Accessibility experts 57 data points across 3 Legs - Country commitments - Country capacity to implement - Country actual results for Persons with Disabilities Slide 4
Commitments: Measuring Legal Foundations for ICT Accessibility General Legal and Regulatory Framework A constitutional article, law or regulation defining the rights of Persons with Disabilities A definition of "Reasonable Accommodation" included in any law or regulation regarding the Rights of Persons with Disabilities A definition of accessibility which includes ICTs or electronic media in the country laws or regulations A definition of Universal Service Obligation in telecommunication legislation that includes Persons with Disabilities Slide 5
Commitments - Positive Impact of CRPD, but ICT Dispositions Are Lagging General Legal and Regulatory Framework A constitutional article, law or regulation defining the rights of Persons with Disabilities (Global North = 87%) A definition of "Reasonable Accommodation" included in any law or regulation regarding the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Global North = 71%) A definition of accessibility which includes ICTs or electronic media in the country laws or regulations (Global North = 64%) A definition of Universal Service Obligation in telecommunication legislation that includes Persons with Disabilities (Global North = 57%) Yes 83% 51% 41% 21% Slide 6
Actual Outcomes: Accessibility of the Public ICT Infrastructure - Levels of Implementation Implementation of accessibility policies, laws and regulations for: No Policy Minimum Implemen- -tation Partial implemen- -tation Substantial implemen- -tation Full impleme ntation Television Global North Countries 38% 7% 50% 33% 10% 47% 2% 13% 0% 0% Government Web Sites Global North Countries 60% 7% 21% 20% 10% 40% 8% 33% 0% 0% Mobile Phones and Services Global North Countries 64% 40% 25% 27% 7% 27% 3% 7% 1% 0% ATM or Kiosks Global North Countries 65% 40% 14% 13% 14% 27% 5% 20% 1% 0% Slide 7
Actual Outcomes: Sector Specific ICT Accessibility Policies, Laws & Regulations - Levels of Implementation Level of Implementation by Specific Application Areas No Policy Minimum Partial Subst antial Full Emergency Response Services 66% 21% 7% 3% 2% Primary and Secondary Education 51% 13% 30% 5% 1% Higher Education 58% 19% 16% 6% 1% Rehabilitation Services 55% 21% 20% 4% 1% Independent Living 65% 19% 13% 2% 1% Reasonable Accommodation - Workplace 58% 26% 10% 6% 0% Slide 8
Europe: Gap in Involving Persons with Disabilities in ICT Accessibility Policy Making, A Critical Success Factor Support of DPOs and NGOS Government financial support for DPOs and NGOs working on digital accessibility A Forum for the active cooperation between NGOs and other stakeholders in the country Mechanism to involve DPOs in the development of ICT accessibility laws and policies Europe 44% 38% 13% Slide 9
Global Score Card: Positive Impact of Information Technology Market Forces Does Your Country Have Yes Screen readers available in principal language 60% Screen readers available in minority languages 21% Text to Speech on smart phones and tablets in main national language Text to Speech on smart phones and tablets in minority languages 70% 23% Slide 10
Monitoring of ICT Accessibility Policy Activity G3ict Accessibility Worldview Service Reviews more than 350 million news items annually Reports out an average of 55 monthly prioritized and curated accessibility policy items Slide 11
Geographic Hot Spots North America: 21 st Century Act rule making, U.S. DOJ on web accessibility, Ontario legislation Europe: European Accessibility Act, public procurement Latin America: Most active region in CRPD implementation - Mexico, Brazil, web accessibility, public procurement Australia: public procurement, EN 301 549 India: e-accessibility Act, Public Procurement China: Government web sites accessibility Slide 12
Examples of Good ICT Accessibility Policies and their Implementation Korea government web sites accessibility policy Colombia Mobile Video Relay and Video Remote Interpretation Services - Free for all deaf persons Canada television legislation including 24 x 7 audio described programs U.S. Job Accommodation Network - Free support for workplace and school accommodation Australia Implementation of the EN 301 549 ICT Accessibility Standard in Public Procurement - Before most EU members Slide 13
The ICT Accessibility Gap: Global Challenges and Opportunities Innovation and global market scale have dramatically increased the availability of accessible and assistive solutions, mobile, digital books and digital TV in particular Solutions and standards exist today to overcome most ICT accessibility barriers Yet, few governments have developed effective policies and programs to fully leverage the opportunity While technologies are available, two major obstacles remain: 1. Lack of accessibility expertise among contents and services providers including governments themselves 2. Underdeveloped ecosystems in support of assistive technologies Slide 14
Available G3ict Capacity Building Resources ICT Accessibility Policy Center M-Enabling Summit & Innovation Outreach Institutional and Advocacy Support ICT Accessibility Training and Certification - Model Policies Web TV - Multimedia Public Access Mobile Education - Policy Toolkit - Advisory support to governments - Worldview Service - Global Programs: Smart Cities Procurement - M-Enabling Summit U.S., Australia, Italy, Russia - Good practices sharing: Financial Services Employment Higher Education - Reports and White Papers - Innovative solutions news highlights - CRPD ICT Accessibility Progress Report - Joint Activities for governments with UN Agencies: ITU UNESCO UNDESA ILO OHCHR WIPO - Capacity building with DPOs, IDA, DPI - International Association of Accessibility Professionals - IAAP Training and Certification Programs - IAAP Connections - 630 Affiliated Testing Centers - 1,200 members - International Chapters Slide 15
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