The Accessibility Imperative Implications of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for Information and Communication Technologies Edited by: G3ict Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies A Flagship Advocacy Initiative of the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development The Accessibility Imperative is published by G3ict, a Division of the Wireless Internet Institute (W2i) and World Times, Inc., to build on the momentum set by the first G3ict Global Forum, co-hosted by the Global Alliance for ICT and Development and the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, at United Nations Headquarters in New York on March 26, 2007. This reference document serves as a basis for seminars and roundtable discussions around the world in the context of the G3ict initiative and provides a multi-annual living knowledge base with ongoing updates in both electronic and printed form. Copyright © 2007 by World Times, Inc. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in written form from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to: G3ict, A Division of World Times, Inc. 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 806, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 United States Website: http://www.g3ict.com First printed October 2007 The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this document are entirely those of the authors and of G3ict, and should not be attributed either to the United Nations or any participating organization in the G3ict initiative. Funding of G3ict programs is provided by: IBM Corporation, Air France, W2i, Internet Speech, VEMICS, NIIT, The Mozilla Foundation Samsung Co-Hosts of G3ict Workshops in 2007-2008 as of this publication include: the United Nations Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development, the International Telecommunications Union, the Honorable Daniel Scioli, Vice President of the Republic of Argentina, the Korea Agency for Digital Opportunity and Promotion (KADO), Politecnico di Milano, CIFAL Atlanta (DCP UNITAR), the City of Chicago, the Wireless Internet Institute, the Digital Inclusion Forum, TechShare and the Royal National Institute for the Blind. This publication is distributed with the understanding that, in instances where legal or other expert assistance is required, readers should not rely entirely on statements made in this book, but rather should seek the services of a competent professional. Neither G3ict, nor the Global Alliance for ICT and Development accepts responsibility for the consequences of actions taken by those who do not seek necessary counsel from competent professionals on legal or other matters that require expert consultation. ISBN 978-0-6151-7608-6 2 The Accessibility Imperative 3 CONTENTS OPENING REMARKS BY MR. BAN KI-MOON ..................................................7 SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS...............................................7 FOREWORD ....................................................................................................9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................12 THE CONVENTION FOR THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES..............................................................................................15 THE G3ICT INITIATIVE: IMPLEMENTING THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS ................................................................................16 FOSTERING UNIVERSAL RULES FOR ICT ACCESSIBILITY.............................21 OVERVIEW OF THE NEW CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR ICTS...........................................23 PROMOTING ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES..............................................................................................27 FROM DIGITAL DIVIDE TO DIGITAL DIVERSITY: THE IMPERATIVE FOR INCLUSIVE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES..............28 AT A GLANCE: THE DEMOGRAPHIC IMPERATIVE OF ACCESSIBILITY ...........35 ASSESSING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF ICT PRODUCTS .....................................41 SUCCESS STORIES: HARNESSING THE POWER OF ACCESSIBLE AND ASSISTIVE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES ........................................................................................49 TELEWORK: OPENING NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ......................................................................................50 POETA: FIGHTING EXCLUSION IN THE AMERICAS WITH ASSISTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGIES .......................................................................57 MAKING ACCESSIBILITY WORK FOR ALL IN EDUCATION ............................60 ASSISTING SELF-EXPRESSION WITH TECHNOLOGY: THE YONSEI REHABILITATION SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.......................................................66 ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AS THE BASIS FOR CREATING AN OPEN INFORMATION SOCIETY........................................72 LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD AND CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BLIND ..........................................................................................................77 WEB ACCESSIBILITY AT GENERAL ELECTRIC ..............................................91 CORE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR ............................................................................97 NEW DIRECTIONS FOR ACCESSIBLE AND ASSISTIVE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES.............................................................98 ACCESSIBILITY AND BUSINESS VALUE ......................................................105 4 The Accessibility Imperative THE MISSING LINK: FINANCING THE INDUSTRY ........................................108 ANATOMY OF AN INDUSTRY SUCCESS STORY: JAWS .................................113 ACCESSIBILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OVER THE WEB..........116 OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE: NEW MODELS FOR COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION ..................................................................................................................121 INTERNET FOR EVERYONE: CONSUMERS, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENTS ..................................................................................................................125 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: THE EUROPEAN PROJECT ASK-IT ........131 HARMONIZATION AND STANDARDIZATION: OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR .......................................................................................................................137 EUROPEAN DISABILITY STRATEGY AND ACCESSIBILITY ...........................138 ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES: THE JAPANESE EXPERIENCE............................................145 THE IMPORTANCE OF HARMONIZATION: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY COUNCIL ....................................149 MEDIA LEADING THE PATH TO PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION AND DEPLOYING HARMONIZATION AND REGULATIONS ....................................153 THE WORLD WIDE WEB CONSORTIUM ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVE ...........161 CONSUMERS AND ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE ..................................................................................................................166 HOW CAN LEGISLATORS AND REGULATORS FOSTER INNOVATION, HARMONIZATION AND COMPLIANCE.................169 ICTS AND PARLIAMENTS: OPPORTUNITIES TO FOSTER LEGISLATION SUPPORTING ACCESSIBILITY .....................................................................170 LEGISLATION AS A TOOL TO IMPLEMENT ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 176 ESTABLISHING ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS THROUGH LEGISLATION AND REGULATION: THE EXPERIENCE OF THE UNITED STATES ACCESS BOARD.181 ENFORCING ICT ACCESSIBILITY RULES ....................................................186 LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS: NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISABILITY MOVEMENT ...............................................................................................194 CRITICAL ISSUES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN IMPLEMENTING THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES .................198 SOUTH AFRICA: PARLIAMENTARY LIFE AND ACCESSIBILITY ....................205 AN OVERVIEW OF THE RATIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ..........210 BEST PRACTICES COMPENDIUM: A RESOURCE GUIDE TO ACCESSIBLE AND ASSISTIVE ICT APPLICATIONS .......................215 AABAC..................................................................................................217 AccessAbill ...........................................................................................218 Access Israel.........................................................................................219 Adaptive Multiple Information System .................................................220 Adaptive Technology Center for the Blind ...........................................221 5 Archimedes ...........................................................................................222 ASK-IT..................................................................................................223