ITU Workshop on Accessibility Workshop Report (English version)

ITU Workshop on AccessibilityBamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009

InternationalTelecommunicationUnion

ITU Workshop on Accessibility Workshop Report

(English version)

Andrea Saks, Workshop Chair

Christine Mugimba, Rapporteur

ITU Workshop on Accessibility/Atelier UIT sur l’accessibilitéBamako, Mali 13 – 15 October 2009


InternationalTelecommunicationUnion 2

Opening ceremony 1/2Video Opening welcome speech by International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Secretary General Dr. Hamadoun TouréIn the presence of

H.E. Minister of Communications and New Technologies, Government of Mali, Madame Diarra Mariam Flatie Diallo,H.E. Minister of Social Development, Solidarity and Aged, Mr. Sékou Diakité, Government of MaliDr. Choguel Kokalla Maiga, Director of Committee of Regulation of Telecommunications (CRT), Government of Mali ITU-T Director, Mr. Malcolm Johnson, Andrea Saks, Convener, ITU-T Joint Coordination Activity on Accessibility and Human Factors, JCA-HF, Abdoulaye Dembele, focal point between ITU-D, ITU-T and JCA-HF for persons with disabilities.



Opening ceremony 2/2Introductions made by Mr. Oumar Sangho, Journalist in Mali The issues highlighted at the opening ceremony included:-

Commitment of Mali government to ICTs accessibility issuesEvent part of the 15th edition of celebrations of the month of solidarity for elderly and persons with disabilities in Mali; Accessibility means autonomy and independence for Persons with disabilities including women and childrenITU’s commitment and initiative in Bridging the digital divide in developing countriesICTs help equalise skillsImportance of the principles of universal design in standardization work Importance of Adoption of UN convention on rights of Persons with disabilities by UN assembly;



Session 1: Introduction to Accessibility:

role of ITU and international organizations

ITU-T accessibility activities- Importance of International standards with accessibility features

Existing standards such as V.18, Accessibility check lists, IPTV with accessibility features, New standards coming; H.325 and relay services for the deafWorld Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08)Resolution 70standards are voluntary, good business to include all accessibility features at the early stage of design and development: universal designImportance of standards by enabling interoperability; example of the text phones for deaf people that were not compatible country to countryDisability communications should be regarded in the same way as rural communications with industry using revenue populations to subsideTechnology and innovation often ahead of regulationNew technology can create barriers; different techniques used in different countries without standards and without universal design



Session 1: ITU accessibility activities

ITU-D Special initiative for persons with disabilities; Role is knowledge dissemination in partnership with member states

Active participation of member states critical; feedback needed on tools developed

Activities include:ICT pilot projects for persons with disabilities in Zambia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, MalawiNew study areas to be tabled at next World Telecommunications Development Conference (WTDC)



Session 1: ITU accessibility activities

Political will, ITU decisions or interventions and regulatory measures essential in addressing accessible ICTs

Important for persons with disabilities to be actors and not spectators

Fellowships available for participation

Important to involve universities and R&D institutions

Special office created within TSB to implement WTSA-08 Resolution 70



Issues arising from session 1

Accessibility for persons with hearing impairmentsDifferences in sign language across countries and regionsReal time text is important in addressing accessibility of ICTs for persons with disabilities, the elderly and in emergency communicationsRelay services such as video text and voice should be available for deaf people or people who cannot speak

Persons with disabilities concerns and needsProblem is not disability but access to technologypersons with disabilities want to use ICTs like other peopleNeed for training of persons with disabilities to be able to use these technologies with the tools that they need

Partnership between telecom companies and member states through Ministries is important



Session 2: UN convention of Rights of persons with disabilities and best practices for ICTs

Presentations by experts;

Importance of UN convention and articles related to accessible ICTs; Legally binding

Digital accessibility new basic rightRights related to ICT accessibility now equivalent to rights to access buildings and transportImportance of national laws and focal point for implementation of UN convention accessibility ICTs provisionsG3ict tool kit as addressing knowledge and capability building for policy makers

Advisory Work of IGF and DCAD and opportunity for participation by ICT experts, persons with disabilities experts and expert organizations



Session 2: technology and disability

Research in Latin America on technology and disability by University of Washington, Seattle WA

under reporting during censusDiscrimination and stigmatismTechnology is a small piece of the problem. Other problems are social, policy and non technology options such as accessible spaces, the availability of sign language and captioning need to be addressedIn some instances assistive devices are not usedSocial networks, advocacy groups are important and grass root approach is valuablepersons with disabilities should be involved at design stage instead of testing stage only



Issues arising out of session 2

ParticipationInterest by participants to contribute to work of IGF and DCAD; ITU experts may be contacted with details

Research and statisticsSimilar research to that done in Latin America should be carried out but ensuring local capacity buildingCensus and survey questions are critical in getting right statistics on persons with disabilities

Advocacy and lobbyNeed for find approaches to that suit local situation to advocate for rights of persons with disabilities including radical approaches; well organized and lobby activists important

Needs of persons with motor disabilitiesEducation and capacity building needed for persons with motor disabilities to be able to utilize existing technologies and to participate in various initiativesUser friendly technology for persons with motor disabilities; Friendly technologies (open source software applications in addition to international standards) to persons with disabilities due to leprosy exist, head movement tech. options etc



Session 3: Assistive Technologies for persons with

disabilities 1/2Case studies of Assistive Technologies deployed and used by persons with disabilities by experts

Demo by Qualilife AT developed to enable person with severe motor disabilities to communicate using standard technologies; head movement being used to control computer; voice and video calls made over the internetTook 5 years to develop software; No need to reinvent the wheel. This can be avoided by ensuring accessibility features are included at beginning of product cycle



Session 3: Assistive Technologies for persons with

disabilities 2/2Research Center for Advanced Science and Technologies initiatives

Concept; device and activity accessibility Focus on difficulty instead of disability; recording device can cover all disabilities using mainstream technologies; mobile phones etcText instructions better than oral instructions for autistic boyUse of mobile phones as a tool in special education Text book on how mobile phones can be used for persons with disabilities Existing technologies such as Windows OS (supports text to speech engine) already have accessibility featuresNeed for training and information on existing technologies and accessibility features can be exploredDevelopment of minority language screen readers project for Nepal



Issues arising out of session 3

Existing technologies and Assistive technologiesAssistive technologies have been developed to help persons with disabilities access ICTs, work along side existing technologiesImportant to have accessibility features at early stage of production of technologyExisting technologies can be used as AT; as some of the technologies already have accessibility features

Training and information on available technologies and accessibility features importantLanguage diversity in accessible ICTs needs to be addressedInvolvement of persons with disabilities in technology development

Important to work with persons with disabilities in designing assistive technologies



Session 4: Social and economic issues

Factual Information on needs of mentally challenged persons limited;

mentally challenged persons usually not included in discussions on persons with disabilitiesBrain development different and need patienceBest people to train are mothers because they are inherently looking for solutions for their children Requirements of children with autism; facts, reduce sensory load, reduce content to essential information

Problem is not hardware but the software-SKID software with different modules developed for use by children with autism



Session 4: social and economic issues

Concept of accessibility as a pyramidAT or user software at the top; screen readersApplications in the middle; email, word processorsFundamental standards-file, communications and interface protocols

Proprietary exclusion: Case study of email application being accessible and not instant messaging

Strengths and weaknesses of govt, private companies and civil society in addressing accessibility of ICTs

Low cost internet access for persons with disabilities critical because of need for scalability, continuity of availability of technology or solution, affordability issues



Issues arising from session 4

Training needed for persons handling children mentally challenged; with autism, mothers best to trainWomen with persons with disabilities face greater challenges related to accessing ICTs; 99% of women with persons with disabilities in developing countries. Women are often excluded from education and this compounds the problem Important to have open protocols, international standards and open source within the concept of accessibility pyramid; Solutions that are large scale, can be replicated and adapted to local situations is criticalBalance between proprietary standards and open standardsThere is no need to regulate every facet of accessibility features focus should be on file, compatible accessible communications and international standards with implemented accessibility features



Session 5: Issues regarding e-health,

e-education and employment 1/2

Case studies of e-health technological solutions deployed by Qualilife in hospitals and rural communities; voice recognition, touch screens etc. The impact is improved health care and satisfaction by patient

Challenge of appreciation and use of ICTs by health expertsCapacity building for medical experts neededLocalization of solutions important



Session 5: Issues regarding e-health,

e-education and employment 2/2Education and employment challenge for persons with disabilities; no single factor can be applied because includes a series of many issues

Better to equip persons with disabilities to develop their own technologies; project on teaching blind programming

Multi-sectorial approach/strategy needed; Labor laws and tax incentivesCommunity based health careShareable training materialsOpportunities for persons with disabilities to work through internshipsTechnological options that can be controlled and are free and open source are desirable



Session 6: Sharing best practices for e-accessibility and ICTs

Case study from Burkina Faso and MaliBurkina Faso

Training centre (AVH and ITU) in adapted computer science to promote professionalism for the blind; equipment like screen readers, scanners and Braille printers13 trained, 10 completed so farCentre used by neighboring countriesParticipation in ICT exhibition by blind persons to demonstrate professionalism

Mali; training centre funded by UNESCO Norway, role of government, association of persons with disabilities and M&E important



Session 6: sharing best practices for

e-accessibility and ICTsKyrgyzstan; Goal to develop Human Capacity and potential of each country;

Digital TV project for children with various needs (education, remote areas, discrimination and disabilities, women being kept at home, children working during the day.)-user interfaces; keyboard, setup box, TV set ITU in collaboration with Ministry of ICT and DIMTV; application of latest technologySet up box software compatible with LINUX or open source

Accessibility tool kit for policy makers



Session 6: issues arising

Training centre common practice within regionNeed to train staff in use and maintenance of computer equipmentNeed for continued research in applicable technologies

Need for policy advocacy on issues of standardisation of products and software Need to assess and review impact of such workshops especially regarding knowledge and information disseminationProjects funded by ITU or UN agenciesIssues of affordability and scalability for advanced technology projects such as digital TV



Session 7: Experiences and challenges in promoting

accessible ICTs 1/2Panel discussion; Uganda, Mali, Zambia, Gambia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, DRC Congo

Issues arisingSome countries yet to ratify UN convention on rights of persons with disabilitiesProjects on ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities implemented with support of ITU-D as pilot projects; Explore use of Universal access funds for sustainability, ITU funding limitedPolitical will important in advancing the needs of persons with disabilities related to persons with disabilities



Session 7: Experiences and challenges in promoting

accessible ICTs 2/2

Key stakeholders involved; education, social development and ICT and regulators, associations for persons with disabilities Role of telecommunications companies needs to be emphasized persons with disabilities should be mainstreamed and not necessarily having special initiatives in seclusionWorkshop good platform for knowledge sharing and learningAvenues available for participation in work of ITU and DCAD and IGFExploring increased funding from ITU council for Accessibility projects for developing countries



Session 8: Issuing regarding Training session on ITU toolkit for policy makers 1/5

Raku Raku story; DoCoMo projectMarket need for elderly and persons with disabilities increase in penetration over 5 year period

Statistics from census /surveysDisparity in results due to nature of questions asked during survey, Ask questions on what people can do, capacity to participate in activities and not the disease or disability;South Africa and Tanzania applied activity based methods in collecting stats as recommended by UN.

Important to have reliable statistics; Apply UN recommendations for best methods of collecting statistics but applied to your local situation




Business case study of window users in USA who use accessibility features

Good for marketing and competitivenessBasic need to understand needs of population including need of persons with disabilities and therefore should be addressed

Role of disabled people in policy makingParticipation of disabled people basic principle of convention and criticalImportant to fund associations of persons with disabilities in order to effectively participate Businesses should not view support for persons with disabilities as charity but as basic need and right Examples of initiatives; online book project by persons with disabilities for persons with disabilities; book share.org, Tiflo-Libros, AT&T has special council of persons with disabilities contributing to product development within the company



Session 8:

Issuing regarding Training session on ITU toolkit for policy makers 3/5

Setting priorities; many government institutions concerned due to the diversity of issues concerned; ICT, socio economic issues, human rights etc

Ownership of programs; at minimum have good coordination at ministerial level; that is inter ministerial coordinationStandards important to effectively used limited resources

Regulatory authorities because of understanding of standardization good position to play a big role in setting priorities




Policy implementation tools; awareness, voluntary charters, legislation and regulation, public procurement;

Legislative/regulation approach necessary sometimes for businesses to implement accessibility featuresPublic procurement –

Government should not spend tax payers' money on projects, products and services that are not accessible; Imposing procurement of accessible products increases level of production of accessible products and skills of e-accessibility




Funding; inclusion of accessibility features can be at no cost but in some instances additional costs are incurredThe avenues of funding; Government budgets, Universal Access and Disability funds, Civil society

Operators can agree on specific requirements ; no technical obstacle for using mobile devices with accessible featuresPersons with disabilities need to be involved in determining accessibility criteria. Consultative advisory committees can be instituted to address needs of persons with disabilities

There are a number of criteria and case studies of implementation of accessibility features for wireless services, TV broadcasting , e-government websites, community centres that can be adapted for local situations

Different regulators for broadcasting and telecommunications sectors, presents challenge in implementing cross cutting ICT accessibility features; Regulators should share knowledge of criteria of digital accessibility applicable to their situations at regional levelPolicies country per country and level of implementation of UN convention to be included on the tool Kit



Session 8: Conclusions 1/2

Good statistics important to develop good policies

Participation of persons with disabilities in all processes for policy making important; nothing about us without us

Proper funding for organizations for persons with disabilities important

Each country to set priorities related to making ICTs accessible in line with basic criteria for implementation of accessible ICTs



Session 8: Conclusions 2/2

Policies should be inclusive for successful implementation

Tools to be used in implementing accessible ICTs; easiest tool change of behavior

Programs to implement should be agreed by all stakeholders

Collaboration and partnerships key in addressing accessible ICTs

Documents

ITU Workshop on Accessibility Workshop Report (English version)