Internet accessibility for persons with disabilities

The internet is about empowerment. Access to information and communication is a key aspect for participation in society. If people
with disabilities are to exercise their rights actively, participate and make choices about their lives, it is essential that they can
access information through adequate communication systems.

For many people with disabilities, accessibility of Internet is a pre-requisite, a stepping stone for getting access to education,
employment, health care, etc..

Persons with disability are primary stakeholders when It comes to the Internet development, thus should be fully Involved regarding the
development of standards and the design of new communication and Information systems .What we all have to remember, is, in order to bridge the digital divide this group of persons must be included and empowered.

- It is essential that all web content be accessible and understood by persons with sensory, physical or cognitive disabilities.

- Websites need to be transformed to meet the accessibility standard

- Information accessibility in remote areas and disadvantage groups should be given priority

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG),stipulates that all web content must be:
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Compatible

ATAG (Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines) defines how authoring tools should help Web developers produce Web content that is
accessible and conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

ATAG also defines how to make authoring tools accessible so that people with disabilities can use them

The authoring tool accessibility guidelines 2.0,will be published in December 2008 and its adoption, immediate, by all stake holders.

For Access for persons with Disabilities to be on equal basis with others ,we need;

Accessible Web Design

 Promoting Accessibility and ICT on the web to minimize cost at early stage in design ,development, production and distribution
 Promote Universal Design in Development of Standards & Guidelines
 Promote Assistive Technologies in Research, Development,

Availability and Affordability
 Provide Accessible Information about New Technologies and Support Services

Best Practices for Government should include and not limited to;
 Mainstreaming Disability Issues for sustainable development
 Supporting Cross-Disability Stakeholder Engagement
 Promoting Accessible Web Sites & Documents

Resource
 Free online information
www.tiresias.org/publications/ disabilities_standardisation/ index.htm

Closing remarks from the chair;
There is a great need to have international and national legal instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the rights of
People with Disabilities to promote accessibility for persons with disabilities This is a very personal and emotional remark, but we
cannot allow isolation of a part of the population due to lack of appropriate functionality that prevents the use of ICT resources by
everybody to the fullest possible degree.

Links with further information and initiatives:

http://www.icdri.org/
http://www.w3.org/WAI/gettingstarted/Overview.html
http://www.itu.int/themes/accessibility/dc/

Food for thought:

Is your website accessible, understandable and perceivable by everyone?

Kind Regards,

--
"Each of us is great insofar as we perceive and act on the infinite possibilities which lie undiscovered and unrecognized about us." James Harvey Robinson