Low-Cost Assistive Technologies that can Scale to Meet the International Accessibility Challenge

1. Fernando H. F. Botelho F123 Consulting www.F123.org/en Internet Governance Forum - Kenya September 2011 Low-Cost Assistive Technologies that can Scale to Meet the InternationalAccessibility Challenge

2. Day-to-Day for the End-User • An estimated 80% of all persons with disabilities live in developing countries and the vast majority cannot afford traditional assistive technologies which cost the equivalent of multiple computers. • A small minority can use expensive technologies donated to NGOs, but are forced to face the cost barrier as soon as they attempt to pursue educational, internship, or employment opportunities outside these organizations. Sources: Statistics on persons with disabilities: http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/facts.shtml Price for the Jaws screen reader: http://sales.freedomscientific.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=340026-001

3. The FOSS Alternative • Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) offers assistive technologies that are either free or low cost thanks to the fact that multiple companies, organizations, governments, or foundations can contribute, use, or distribute such software. • Examples include: • * Compiz Fusion/eZoom, • * Dasher, • * eSpeak, • * Eviacam, • * F123 Motor, • * F123 Visual, • * GOK, • * NVDA, • * Orca, etc. Sources: Article with examples of FOSS assistive technologies: https://edutechdebate.org/assistive-technology/we-need-an-assistive-technology-strategy/

4. The FOSS Advantage Assistive technologies based on Free and Open Source Software: • Can be modified and distributed by anyone so competition is intense and prices for the software are either free or very competitive. • Are not controlled by any single entity so volunteers feel comfortable helping with translations and other improvements that might be difficult to fund if the motivation was profit. • Social return on investments made by governments, foundations, or companies are extraordinary since millions of users can benefit from them. Sources: Study shows that there are over 14 million users of the Gnome interface used in many Linux installations: http://www.neary-consulting.com/index.php/services/gnome-census/ Improvements funded by the F123 Project and The Mozilla Foundation will be available to over 14 million users: http://www.gnome.org/press/2010/10/gnome-project-receives-15000-for-accessibility-work/ Article on the business model of FOSS companies that provide assistive technologies: http://www.e-accessibilitytoolkit.org/toolkit/promoting_assistive_technologies/open-source

5. Public Policy Opportunities • FOSS-based assistive technologies allow governments to achieve a much higher social return on investment by reaching a much larger segment of the population of persons with disabilities for any given level of funding. Such a strategy can be extremely helpful in meeting the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. • Governments can further optimize the effectiveness of their development programs by using: • * FOSS operating systems and applications, so that governments and end-users do not become dependent on expensive complementary technologies; • * Manuals, user guides, and other training materials with Creative Commons licenses to facilitate the spread of technology; and • * procurement and other policies to support interoperability through open accessibility standards, open file formats, and communication protocols. Sources: Article on government policies and the impact of open standards: http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/oth/06/27/T06270000060042PDFE.pdf Information on the Creative Commons license: http://www.creativecommons.org/