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