eAccessibility: Legislation Review and

CBA

Robert HuffakerMarie Curie Fellow at DREAM Programme

Technical Officer at TechnositeExternal PhD Student at NUIG CDLP

Can ICT expand markets?…

… and create value?

3

Introduction

• What is ICT, eAccessibility and Web Accessibility

Web accessibility vs. eAccessibility

eAccessibility

Web Accessibility

5

Introduction

• Disabled People / People with disabilities (PwD) are still

not fully enjoying benefits and opportunities provided by

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

• Accessible ICTs are essential enablers for participating in

the economy and society, to exercise freedom of choice

and to have an independent living (UNCRPD)

• MeAC and other studies shows that eAccessibility level in

Europe is still low

• Not a niche market: Important business opportunity

6

Some examples…

• APSIS4all project: http://www.apsis4all.eu/

There is still a need of evidence on cost/benefits and

impacts of accessible ICT

Steps

Gather evidence from secondary sources to analyse the

current situation?

Gather evidence from field research? Surveys?

Elaborate Case Studies?

Identify Key Aspects: Costs and Benefits?

Develop Models?

Propose recommendations?

How to identify costs and benefits …

Web accessibility

• All companies considered web accessibility important.

• More than 50% of the Websites were designed to be

accessible from the start.

• Reasons for launching an accessible Website :

compliance with the legal requirements,

support of the company CSR policy

widening the number and characteristics of users

usability

• Most Websites were developed either by an external

consultancy (44%) or in a partnership (34%)

Surveying organisations: Motivations for web accessibility

• Web accessibility is linked with the operational performance

of the Website, i.e. usability enhancement, faster loading

time, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), etc.

• The improvement in social image is considered critical,

especially as a part of a wider Corporate Social

Responsibility (CSR) strategy.

• The “two ticks accreditation” (in the UK, indicating that an

employer is committed to supporting or employing PwD).

• Better profile in media publications and public reports.

• Avoiding legal costs and fines arising from litigation

• Decrease in user complaints.

Surveying organisations: Perceived benefits

11

Estimations and Extrapolations Key Aspects Quantified (Macroeconomic Level)

USERS LEVEL BENEFITS

ORGANISATIONAL LEVEL BENEFITS

•Potential increase in employment for PwD

•Public sector efficiency gains from more users of eGovernment services

•Potential increase in wages for PwD

•Private sector increased sales from eCommerce

•Increased consumer welfare from access to eCommerce and eBanking

ORGANISATIONAL LEVEL COSTS

•Increased convenience and savings from access to eGovernment services

•Organisational extra costs attributable to implementing and maintaining web accessibility

12

Estimations and Extrapolations Results overview: net present value of aggregate net

benefits (30-year horizon; discount rate 2,5%)

YEAR WHEN RESULTS ARE POSITIVE

Target 5%

scenario 1Under no scenario the policy impact give

positive net benefitsscenario 2

scenario 3

Target 25%

scenario 1 No positive net benefits

scenario 2 Net benefits positive after 10 years

scenario 3 Net benefits positive after 4 years

Target 50%

scenario 1 Net benefits positive after 23 years

scenario 2 Net benefits positive after 3 years

scenario 3 Net benefits positive after 1 year

Target 100%

scenario 1 Net benefits positive after 4 years

scenario 2 Net benefits positive after 1 year

scenario 3 Net benefits positive from the start

Part 2: Legislation Review

UNCRPDAccessibility is identified in Article 3(f) as one of its eight

principles, and accessibility rights, including ICT, are established as a condition for persons with disabilities to exercise their fundamental freedoms and human rights.

The importance of accessibility is underscored by the fact that the word ‘access’ has been used nine times, and accessibility seventeen times throughout the text of the treaty (Narasimhan and Lebois 2012).

Article 9 of the CRPD deals with the right of access to education, employment, information, transportation, social and cultural life and entertainment. ICTs are affected in almost all of these aspects, proving to be a wide-reaching goal on behalf of the UN.

IRELANDAccording to the National Disability Authority (NDA), Irish public policy includes requirements for government department websites to conform to Priority Levels 1 and 2 of the W3C WCAG 1.0.

Mary McAleese, officially launched the Excellence through Accessibility Award program.

In addition, the Disability Act of 2005 requires access to information and provides for a complaint-filing process effective December 31, 2005. Section 28 of the legislation states in part

Department of the Taoiseach’s “New Connections—A Strategy to realize the potential of the Information Society” stated that “all public websites are required to be WAI (level 2) compliant by end 2001”.

NDA: Irish National Disability Authority IT Accessibility Guidelines for web, telecommunications, public access terminals, and application software.

SPAINLaw 34, June 11, 2002—Information Society and Electronic

Commerce Services Act

Law 51/2003, December 2, 2003—regarding equality of

opportunities, nondiscrimination, and universal accessibility for

people with disabilities Called LIONDAU: de igualdad de

oportunidades, no discriminación y accesibilidad universal de

las personas con discapacidad

Royal Decree 209, February 21, 2003—regarding registries

and the telematic notifications

Law 59, December 19, 2003—regarding electronic signature

Diversity of ICT capabilities…

… diversity of user profiles and situations…

Thank you!

Robert Huffaker

rhuffaker@technosite.es

es.linkedin.com/in/robhuffaker

Skype: robhuffaker

www.roberthuffaker.com