Universal framework for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities

1. Why a Global AT Centers Leadership Network?Global Perspectives on CRPD ImplementationATIS4allFirst Workshop, Madrid, Spain14th and 15th March, 2011By Axel LebloisExecutive Director, G3ict

2. Universal framework for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities 147 countries have signed it as of February 2011 – 87 with the Optional Protocol 98 have ratified it, representing over 75% of the World Population Detailed dispositions on ICT Accessibility and Assistive Technologies incl. Art. 9 State Parties now have an obligation to implement its dispositions on ICT Accessibility and Assistive Technologies Implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2

3. Main Dispositions with Implications for ICT Accessibility and Assistive Technologies

4. Special Dispositions Promoting Accessible & Assistive Technologies Mandate to promote R&D ICT Products Development and Universal Design Reasonable accommodation defined and mandated Obligation for States to set accessibility standards Intellectual property rights Promoting New Media and the Internet for Persons with Disabilities

5. Measuring Gaps: 2010 G3ict CRPD ICT Accessibility Progress Report 32 Countries Surveyed 31 with Ratification + United States Sample of income per capita and regions

6. General Legal and Regulatory Framework: Alignment with CRPD Moving Forward 91% have a constitutional article, law or regulation defining the rights of persons with disabilities 72% have a definition of "Reasonable Accommodation" included in any law or regulation regarding the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 56% have a definition of accessibility which includes ICTs or electronic media in the country laws or regulations

7. % of State Parties with Policies Covering ICT Accessibility in Specific Areas 78% Primary and secondary education 72% Higher education 63% Rehabilitation services 59% Health services 59% Reasonable accommodation at work 50% Emergency services 44% Voting systems 44% Judicial information & legal proceedings 38% Community services 34% Independent living

8. Country Actual Implementations 78% Have some level of closed captioning or sign language interpretation implemented by TV broadcasters 66% Have libraries for the blind or public libraries providing e-books services 59% Have assistive technologies available to students with disabilities at major universities 50% Have programs in place to facilitate the usage of telephony by persons with disabilities (Transcription, TDD/TTY devices, relay services, accessible public phones) 47% Have wireless handsets with accessible features 44% Have accessible web sites among the top 10 commercial and media web sites 44% Have accessible ATMs or electronic kiosks deployed

9. Actual Capacity to Implement ICT Accessibility Very Limited 41% define, promote an monitor accessibility standards for ICTs 38% have government funds allocated to programs in support of Digital Accessibility 28% have a systematic mechanism to involve DPOs working in the field of digital access to the drafting, designing, implementation and evaluation of laws and policies 13% have statistics or data accessible for the general public about digital access by persons with disabilities 9% have mandatory training programs (at universities, vocational schools etc.) for future professionals about digital access for persons with disabilities (Tunisia, Hungary, South Africa)

10. G3ict AdvocacyStrategy • Three Core Areas of Advocacy and Capacity Building with different groups of stakeholders: • Information infrastructure • Assistive technologies • Contents accessibility • Working in cooperation with organizations with relevant outreach (ITU, W3C, UNESCO, UN DESA, World Bank, UN ESCAP, UNITAR) • Fostering dialogue among policy makers, disabled persons organizations and leading ICT organizations

11. Example of Global Cooperation: ITU – G3ict e-Accessibility Policy Toolkit • Provides useful resources for Regulators implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities • Focuses on what works, what does not with case studies on policy and programs from around the world • Developed by G3ict and ITU with Industry, NGOs, and Policy Makers • Establishes a framework for addressing the e-Accessibility agenda Growth in the number of regulators worldwide

13. Assistive Technologies: a Challenging Situation in Most Countries • Implementation issue most difficult for State Parties: • Lack of robust ecosystem • Training and support availability and costs • Lack of interoperability and obsolescence issues • Fragmented government efforts between education, labor and various rehabilitation services • Fast evolving technology • Significant cost challenges in low-income countries • Seeking examples of AT policies and programs that work • Creation of a network of AT Centers of Excellence in 2011

14. Objectives of the G3ict AT Leadership Initiative 1. Create a venue to share successful programs, methods and experiences 2. Provide input on the most effective policies and programs that State Parties should consider 3. Explore leading edge solutions and related implementation challenges and opportunities in different economic and social development contexts (Ex.: cloud computing, mobile apps and services)

15. Other Activities of Potential Interest in 2011 to ATIS4all Participants • Meetings: • Methodologies for web accessibility assessment – Hyderabad – March 2011, with W3C, followed by White Paper • Promoting broadband adoption by Persons with Disabilities – June 2011 • Education Ministers Briefing at UNESCO – September 2011 • Global Forum on Mobile Accessible and Assistive Apps and Services Washington, D.C. – December 2011 • White Papers: • Documenting Mobile Service Provider business processes to implement accessible services – AT&T (Published) • Global Report on Mobile for persons with disabilities (with ITU and CIS) – May 2011 • Global Report on Universal Service Funds Policies for Persons with Disabilities (With ITU and CIS) – June 2011 • Interim report on live experiments of cloud-based Assistive Technologies deployments in Italy and Tanzania (September) • 2011 ICT Accessibility Progress Report : 60 countries with greater level of details

17. PUBLICATIONS SPONSORS CO-HOSTS Thank You! www.g3ict.org www.e-accessibilitytoolkit.org axel_leblois@g3ict.org +1 (404) 641 5661

18. Questions for Axel Lebois (G3ICT) • 1. Which AT expertise centers worldwide would you suggest as key actors? • 2. How ATIS4all and G3ICT can collaborate in the areas of: • Promoting R&D for Assistive Technologies • Promoting interoperability standards • Developing a strong national and international AT ecosystem

19. Initial Participants - National Centers of Excellence Brazil – CETI-D, São Paulo State Government China – CDPF France – Institut de l’Accessibilité Numérique India – Center for Internet and Society Italy – Sim-patia Ireland – Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, NDA Qatar – Mada Qatar Assistive Technologies Center Russia – Institute for Information Technologies and Educational Equipment Spain – Once Foundation / Technosite Tunisia – University of Tunis - BASMA Ukraine - Kiev University U.K. – AbilityNet U.S.A. – JAN-Job Accommodation Network

20. Detailed CRPD Dispositions Relevant to Assistive Technologies Centers of Excellence

21. Accessibility: ICTs On Par with Physical Environment & Transportation « To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems... » (Article 9)

22. 1 - Promoting R&D for Assistive Technologies State Parties...undertake or promote research and development of, and to promote the availability and use of new technologies, including information and communications technologies, mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, suitable for persons with disabilities, giving priority to technologies at an affordable cost (Article 4 – g)

23. 2 - ICT Products Development • Early Stage Accessibility Definitions: • “Promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost” (Art. 9) • Universal Design: • “To undertake or promote research and development of universally designed goods, services, equipment and facilities, as defined in article 2 of the present Convention, which should require the minimum possible adaptation and the least cost to meet the specific needs of a person with disabilities, to promote their availability and use, and to promote universal design in the development of standards and guidelines” (Art. 4)

24. 3 - Reasonable Accommodation Defined and Mandated “Reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms (article 2) General obligation in article 3, referenced in articles on education and employment

25. 4 - Standards « States Parties shall take…appropriate measures to develop, promulgate and monitor the implementation of minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services open or provided to the public » Article 9-2 (a)

26. 5 - Intellectual Property Rights “States Parties shall take all appropriate steps, in accordance with international law, to ensure that laws protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to access by persons with disabilities to cultural materials.” (Article 30 on Cultural life)

27. 6 - New Media and the Internet « States Parties shall also take appropriate measures to…promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communications technologies and systems, including the Internet » Article 9 (g)