ICT Accessibility: one of the core components to ensure ICT for Sustainable and Inclusive Development

1. ICT Accessibility: one of the core components to ensure ICT for Sustainable and Inclusive Development ITU Asia Pacific Regional Forum on ICT For Sustainable And Inclusive Development 16-18 May 2012 @UNESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand By Monthian Buntan Senator of Thailand

2. To Ensure ICT for Sustainable and Inclusive Development, ICT must be: Available Affordable Accessible ICT

3. ICT Accessibility • Is a “Disability-Driven” concept of "Digital Inclusion" based on human dimension while other aspects of access to information or ICTs are centered around geographical (availability) and economic (affordability) dimensions. • ICT Accessibility can certainly accommodate social, cultural, linguistic and other aspects of human diversity.

4. WSIS • The World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) opens the door for "ICT Accessibility", through Universal Design and the use of Assistive Technologies, to be introduced, recognized, documented and promoted to the mainstream international ICT community for the first time.

5. ICT Accessibility Universal Design Assistive Technology Reasonable Accommodation A realistic/practical approach to these three basic requirements is “ICT Accessibility Standards”.

6. ICT Accessibility Standards Internationally recognized Language-independent, etc Open andnon-proprietary Cross-architecture Cross-platform

7. Why ICT Accessibility? • It is mandated by law, such as Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); • It addresses the needs of all people which makes the society more inclusive; • It stimulates more innovation which moves the ICT industry forward; • It makes more economic sense, etc.

8. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) • The first UN human rights treaty of the twenty-first century; • The first UN disability-thematic convention; • A comprehensive treaty which contains both economic, social and cultural rights (social development) and civil and political rights; • No new rights, but measures to ensure full and effective enjoyment of all existing human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.

9. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) • Completed (drafted, negotiated and adopted within less than five years); • Actively participated by civil society especially disability-rights organizations; • Grassroots-based and Internet-driven around the world; • Signed and ratified by more than one hundred countries within less than five years since its adoption, etc.

10. ICT Accessibility and CRPD • First UN human rights convention which lists “Accessibility" as one of its general principles (art. 3) and mandates throughout its entire text; • First UN convention which clearly defines “Universal Design", “Reasonable Accommodation" and unconventionally redefines “Communication" and “Language" (art. 2);

11. ICT Accessibility and CRPD • First UN convention which recognizes braille and sign language (art. 21) • First UN convention which requires state parties to promote and support research and development of accessible ICTs through universal design concept and assistive technologies following internationally-recognized accessibility standards (art. 4);

12. Other articles within CRPD which contains ICT-related requirements • Art. 9 on accessibility, covering access to physical environments , transportations, information and communication including ICTs; • Art. 21 on freedom of expression and access to information, including braille, sign language and the internet; • Art. 24 on education; • Art. 26 on habilitation and rehabilitation,

13. Other articles within CRPD which contains ICT-related requirements • Art. 27 on employment, • Art. 29 on political participation, • Art. 30 on access to cultural sites and cultural materials beyond intellectual property rights law, • Art. 49 which mandates that the text of this convention shall be made available in accessible formats), etc. Art. 11 "all necessary measures"

14. Achieving Safer Society through greater ICT Accessibility? • Demonopolization of ICT usage, • More access to power sharing (greater democracy), • Less crime (debatable), • More Effective and Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction System.

15. Achieving Greener Society through greater ICT Accessibility: • Paperless, sustainable, reusable information, • Less energy consumption through more efficient and effective communication and knowledge sharing.

16. Conclusion • It’s Power which moves the world forward. • and it’s Information and Knowledge which constitute power. • Equal access to information and knowledge is, therefore, a must in order to ensure equal access to power (power sharing) which is a core part to achieve an Inclusive and Rights-based Society for all.

17. Conclusion • Equal access to information and knowledge can be achieved within the here and now through ICT Accessibility for all solution which embraces Universal Design concept, the use of Assistive Technologies with Reasonable Accommodation,a big contribution from the disability communities not just for us, but for all. Let us make ICT Accessibility for all the reality!! Let us give up on giving up!!