VI Jornadas del Sidar Accesibilidad y Experiencia del

Usuario Politicas en el Mundo

23 de octubre de 2002

Mike Burks

AT&T/ICDRI

mburks952@att.net

“Technology changes civil rights do not!”- Cynthia Waddell

Executive Director the International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet

Speaker Introduction

• Michael R. Burks

• Accessibility Expert AT&T WorldNet Service

• Webmaster ICDRI

Organization IntroductionICDRI – http://www.icdri.org• Internationally recognized as a public policy center organized by and

for people with disabilities

• Collects a global knowledge base of quality disability resources and best practices

• Provides education, outreach and training based on these core resources

• ICDRI seeks to increase equalization of opportunities for people with disabilities by identifying barriers to participation and promoting best practices and universal design of technology for the global community.

Law and Policy InitiativesCurrent Standards

• W3C WAI WCAG 1.0

• U. S. Section 508

Law and Policy Initiatives

• UN Efforts

• EU Initiatives

• Efforts by EU Members

• U. S. Law and Policy Efforts

• Initiatives in Other Areas

UN Efforts

• Rule 5 of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for People with Disabilities deals with access to communications

• Rule is found at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/dissre04.htm

EU InitiativeseEurope 2002 Action Plan

Priorities in the field of e-accessibility: • Policies to avoid ‘info-exclusion’;

• Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines for public websites;

• Publication of ‘Design for all’ standards;

• Review relevant legislation and standards;

• Establishment of national centres of excellence in ‘Design for all’.

- Unpublished work of Rianne ten Veen

EU Initiatives

Activities Since eEurope 2002 adoption • Sep ‘01: Commission Communication eEurope 2002: Accessibility of

Public Web Sites and their content

• Oct ‘01: Council Resolution on e-inclusion

• March ‘02: Council Recommendation on Web Accessibility Initiative guidelines

• April ‘02: European network of Centres of Excellence/ National Contact Centres

• June ‘02: eEurope 2005

- Unpublished work of Rianne ten Veen

EU InitiativesFuture Activities

• 2002: Adoption of Council Recommendation on e-accessibility

• 2003: European Year of People with Disabilities

• June 2003: implementation Telecoms package

• By end 2004: basic public services in Member States should be accessible for all (key target eEurope 2005)

- Unpublished work of Rianne ten Veen

Efforts by European Nations

Belgium

• Web Accessibility is included in the e-government idea but as yet detailed specifications have not yet been developed.

Efforts by European Nations

Denmark• W3C WCAG, Priority Level One standards are part of

the national guidelines for accessible web design; standards for accessible public publications; and advisory activity between public web masters.

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Efforts by European Nations

Finland• W3C WCAG, Priority Level One standards have been

adopted as part of the Public Administration Recommendations in the JHS 129 Guidelines concerning development of e-Services, Ministry of the Interior, December 2000. See http://www.intermin.fi/juhta/suositukset/jhs129.htm.

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Efforts by European Nations

France• In application of the 12th October 1999 administrative guidelines

(circulaire), the "Mission pour les Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication" (MTIC) of the Prime Minister has published standards for accessibility of public web sites. This action aims to promote the following documentation and tools among public sector Webmasters, which are already available on MTIC's web site at http://www.atica.pm.gouv.fr/interop/accessibilite/index.shtml

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Efforts by European Nations

Germany• The federal government and the governments of

the Länder are working on taking up the W3C WCAG, Priority Level One standards.

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Efforts by European Nations

Greece• Official adoption of the Guidelines and the practical

implementation plan for existing and future public web sites are currently the subject of deliberations under the auspices of the Secretary for Information Society of the Hellenic Ministry of National Economy.

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Efforts by European Nations

Ireland• Recommended Government Guidelines on Web Publication

for Public Sector Organisations have been published, which include guidelines in relation to accessibility. A target has been set for all government Department web sites to achieve level A compliance by the end of April 2001, with achievement of level AA compliance as a target for the end of 2001.

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Efforts by European Nations

Italy• On March 13th, 2001, the Ministry of Public Function signed a

Cabinet Resolution with the title: "Linee Guida per l'organizzazione, l'usabilità e l'accessibilità dei siti Web delle Pubbliche Amministrazioni". See the following web sites:

• http://www.funzionepubblica.it/download/pdf/accessibilita.pdf • http://www.governo.it/sez_dossier/linee_web/direttiva.html

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Efforts by European Nations

Luxemborg• In February 2001, the government adopted a national

action plan: e-Luxembourg. The Guidelines will be included in the e-government concept (one of the six main targets of the e-Luxembourg programme).

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Efforts by European Nations

Netherlands• The Guidelines have been recommended by the Minister

of Public Health, Welfare, and Sport in February 2001. There is ongoing development of adoption plans.

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Efforts by European Nations

Sweden• Accessibility to information is included in the government bill "From

patient to citizen – a national action plan for disability policy".

• A government ordinance concerning state government authorities and their responsibility for implementing the disability policy has recently been issued.

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Efforts by European Nations

United Kingdom• The current guidelines for UK government web sites were

published in late 1999.• These guidelines are currently being investigated by the Office

of the e-Envoy, and a draft is available at http://www.open.gov.uk/dev/neil/.

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts Federal

• Federal Government Web Sites controlled by Section 508

• Other areas come under other laws such at the Americans with Disabilities Act

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

California • The Chancellor’s Office of California Community

Colleges issued Distance Education Access Guidelines for

Students with Disabilities in August 1999. 

• http://www.htctu.fhda.edu/dlguidelines/final dl

guidelines.htm

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

California • The Chancellors office has issued  Guideline for Producing

Instructional and other Printed Material in Alternate Media

for Persons with Disabilities.  

• http://www.htctu.fhda.edu/amguidelines/am33000.htm  

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

Connecticut • The state of Connecticut is addressing web accessibility

with the CMAC Web Site Accessibility Subcommittee

(CMAC-AC) • http://www.cmac.state.ct.us/access 

• kathleen.anderson@po.state.ct.us

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

Kentucky • An "Information Technology" bill was passed through an

amendment to SB 315, a larger bill to create the Governor's Office of Technology.

• The bill with the amendment was signed by Kentucky's Governor, Paul Patton.

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

Maine Accessibility in Information Technology• Website Accessibility Policy for State Websites

http://www.state.me.us/CIO/accessibility/webpolicy.html

• All State websites must comply with these accessibility standards.

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

Missouri • The state of Missouri is taking proactive action to make all

electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. 

• http://www.dolir.state.mo.us/matp/matc_eainit.htm 

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

New York • New York has issued a policy to make all state websites

accessible to people with disabilities. 

• The have issued a formal policy to this effect through the Office of Technology.  These guidelines can be found at:

• Technology Policy 99-3 http://www.oft.state.ny.us/policy/AccessCharter.htm  

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

North Carolina • North Carolina has adopted a Policy that all electronic and

Information Technology used by entities under the Aegis of the IRMC in the state of North Carolina be accessible to people with disabilties.  The report of the committee that developed these guidelines is found at:

• http://irmc.state.nc.us/access/.

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

North Dakota• On September 25, 2001, North Dakota issued its website

accessibility policy.

• http://www.state.nd.us/itd/planning/doc/dp005-01.pdf

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

Pennsylvania • "All Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Web sites must

adhere to existing Commonwealth of Pennsylvania policies and restrictions regarding Internet and Intranets."  Quoted from the Policy Statement, for additional information go to:

•  http://www.oit.state.pa.us/oit/Policy/view.asp?Q=16655  

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

Texas• The Department of Information Resources proposes new

rule §201.12 concerning state web sites.http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/November121999/PROPOSED/administration.html#60

• Revised version can be found at: http://www.state.tx.us/Standards/S201-12.htm

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

Utah• The state of Utah adopted web accessibility guidelines on

January 9, 2001.  The standards page is located at: http://www.dced.state.ut.us/gils/standards.htm

• The Utah accessibility standards document is located at: http://www.cio.state.ut.us/Docs/Itpsc01/0101Tab13WebStd01.09.01.doc

• The User Name is user the password is the same.

U. S. Law and Policy Efforts State by State

West Virginia• In 2001, West Virginia passed SB 476 in the legislature. It

covers visually impaired individuals. Other advocacy groups in West Virginia plan to broaden the language of

the IT Access Act to include other disabilities.

Initiatives in Other Areas

• There is also important work going on in other areas.

Australia• Online information and services must be accessible to

people with disabilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA).

• Australian Commonwealth Websites must be accessible as well.

• See: http://www.govonline.gov.au/projects/standards/accessibility.htm

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Canada

• In May 2000, the government of Canada adopted a policy for all federal government organizations that requires conformance to W3C WCAG Priority 1 and 2 Checkpoints.

• This "Common Look and Feel for the Internet" policy is found at http://www.cio-dpi.gc.ca/clf-upe/.

JapanThe e-Japan Policy program for barrier-free access has resulted in

significant policies impacting the accessible web. On 29 March 2001, the government IT Strategy Headquarters announced a number of policies, such as:

• Web sites of ministries and agencies shall be accessible so that government information on the Web can be easily utilized by people with visual disabilities

• Official Gazettes distributed over the Web will be tailored to the

needs of people with visual disabilities . -From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By

Cynthia Waddell

Japan• So that people with visual and hearing disabilities can enjoy

broadcast services just like people without disabilities, R&D activities on production technologies for broadcast programming will be conducted with the costs of programming for closed captions, explanatory narration, and sign languages to be subsidized

• School environments for children who are blind or deaf and with other disabilities will be addressed so that computers can be utilized by the students

• R&D activities will be conducted to provide children in hospital with the ability to study through the Web

• -From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Japan

• IT equipment and systems that can be easily used by the elderly and people with disabilities shall be developed

• Technologies will be developed to enable the elderly and people with disabilities to use the Internet easily, an accessibility checking system of web sites will be created, and verification experiments will be conducted for the promotion of a barrier-free environment of information access

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

New Zealand

•  Proposed Guidelines for New Zealand government web sites have been developed by Government Information Managers' Forum (GOVIS) with the help of the web developers support forum.

• http://www.govt.nz/egovt/guidelines/web-guidelines/index.html

Singapore• The The National Internet Advisory Committee • (NIAC)released their 2001 report that discusses disability

issues including greater education and promotion of web accessibility requirements at Paragraph 4.11 of the report. The NIAC noted the availability of guidelines to assist web site designers in designing accessible web sites and encourages their use.

• The report is available at: http://www.sba.gov.sg/sba/detailed.jsp?artid=362&typeid=1&cid=0&bSubmitBy=true.

-From Constructing Accessible Web Sites Chapter 2 By Cynthia Waddell

Conclusion

Summary and Challenges Ahead• Basic Standards are needed

• Developers of EIT and web technology will not have to meet several different standards.

• There must be something on which to base legal and policy decisions • As technology evolves, standards for accessiblity must evolve as well.

• If not technology will move on, and people with disabilities will be

left behind….again.

Conclusion

Progress MadeLegal and Policy Mandates are insuring progress in the

accessiblity of web sites and EIT. Much of the progress made in techniques and software such as web production tools, and assessment tools are due at least in part to accessibility laws and policies being implemented on a global scale.

Conclusion

Progress to ComeWhen Universal Access is truly an integral part of the design

of all new products then we will have taken the road to including everyone.

References

• Constructing Accessible Web Sites, Chapter 2, by Cynthia Waddell, Published by glasshaus, April 2002

• Collected Works Of Cynthia Waddell: http://www.icdri.org/CynthiaW/cynthia_waddell.htm

• Unpublished work of Rianne ten Veen • RESNA: Assistive Technology Act Projects' Activities and

Initiatives: http://www.resna.org/taproject/policy/initiatives/508.html#ata

Acknowledgements

• Cynthia Waddell, Executive Director ICDRI• Rianne ten Veen, Advisory Board ICDRI• Jose Luis Pardos, Board of Directors ICDRI

New Book – New Book – Released April 2002Released April 2002

Includes Global Includes Global Survey of Survey of Accessible Web Law Accessible Web Law and Policies as well and Policies as well as In Depth Look at as In Depth Look at Section 508Section 508

Order at www.ICDRI.org for DiscountOrder at www.ICDRI.org for Discount