E-Accessibility - A perspective of Persons with Disabilities

Nadège Riche, Policy OfficerEuropean Disability Forum (EDF)

ATIS4All Second Workshop9 September 2011

Prague, Czech Republic

European Disability Forum (EDF)

Organisation OF persons with disabilitiesRepresentation of the 85 million Europeans with disabilitiesRepresentation of all disabilities: persons with physical, sensory or

cognitive impairments, people with mental health conditionUmbrella organisations of European disability organisations: 29

National Disability Councils and 24 European NGOs as full members

Our missionGuarantee the human and fundamental rights of persons with

disabilitiesPromote equal opportunities for persons with disabilitiesFight against discrimination on the basis of disability

Areas of WorkNon discrimination, education, employment, transport, built

environment, ICT, standardisation, etc.

EDF, E-Accessibility and ICT ATs

DefinitionE-accessibility means access to mainstream ICT products and

services by the widest possible number of people, regardless of their age or disabilities, in accordance with the concept of Universal Design.However, persons with disabilities, who are a very heterogeneous

group, may still need in some cases special services or goods. It is therefore important to also support the development of assistive technologies and ensure compatibility and interoperability between assistive and mainstream technologies.

E-Accessibility and Link with ICT ATsFirst: accessible mainstream ICT products and servicesSecond: ICT ATs to accommodate the specific needs of persons

with disabilities

Perspective of Persons with Disabilities on ICTs

ICTs as enabling toolsAccessibility of ICTs is not an end in itself, but ICTs are

enablers for inclusion and participation in ICTsMore important for persons with disabilities because persons

with disabilities use ICTs more often than on average

Aspects to be taken into account for persons with disabilities to use ICTsAccessibilityAvailabilityUsabilityAffordabilityInteroperability and compatibilityQuality

Perspective of Persons with Disabilitieson ICT AT

State of PlayPersons with disabilities explain that ATs are:

ExpensiveDifficult and long to getComplex to use

Inequalities in access to ATs between Europeans with disabilities

Aspects to Develop the AT FieldCreate a AT European internal market for economy of scaleSimplify the supply of ATsEnsure participation and involvement of persons with

disabilitiesProviding information and training to persons with disabilities

E-Accessibility: Policy Background

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD)Accessibility: Articles 3(f) and 9 on accessibility Universal Design and AT: Article 2Concluded by the EU on 23 December 2010

Europe 2020 and Digital Agenda for EuropeEuropean 2020: smart, sustainable and inclusive growthDigital Agenda for Europe/Pillar 6 on digital literacy, skills and

inclusion

EU Disability Strategy 2010-2020Accessibility as one of the main pillar

EDF and E-Accessibility Legislation

Top Campaign on Freedom of Movement, including ICTsFreedom of movement of goods, services and people3 deliverables: a binding European Accessibility Act, a

European Mobility Card and the EDF Freedom Guide

AGE-ANEC-EBU –EDF Campaign on Accessible WebsitesDigital Agenda for Europe: accessibility of public websites

and websites delivering basic services to citizens by 2015Call for binding EU legislation on web-accessibility

Sector-specific legislationE-communications: Telecoms Package, Universal Services

DirectiveAudio-visual Media Services Directive

EDF and Accessibility of Specific ICTs

Projects and Cooperation to Enhance Accessibility of Specific ICTs

Smart Accessibility Award with Vodafone Foundation and AGE: accessibility of applicationsdeveloper.vodafone.com/smartaccess2011

Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative with the Mobile Manufacturer Forumwww.accessibility.info

Cooperation with DIGITALEUROPE on accessibility of TV

EDF and Spreading Knowledge on E-Accessibility

Projects to Raise Awareness, Educate and Train on E-Accessibility

ATIS4all, thematic network on ICT ATswww.atis4all.eu

eAccess+, thematic network on e-accessibilitywww.eaccessplus.eu

Nadège RicheEDF Policy Officer

nadege.riche@edf-feph.orgwww.edf-feph.org