ITU: Digital inclusion of persons with disabilities lagging behind
Policy and regulatory changes to focus on greater ICT accessibility
Geneva, 14 November 2014 – The Model ICT Accessibility Policy Report released in São Paulo, Brazil recognizes that despite the unprecedented growth in mobile and Internet use worldwide, very few nations have acted to ensure that persons with disabilities are part of the technology revolution. The Report is jointly published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict).
The report notes that although many countries have information and communication technology (ICT) laws, policies and regulations that generally support the principles of universal access to ICT, the needs of the disability community are different and require a deliberate additional focus on ICT accessibility by legislators, policy-makers and regulators aimed at removing barriers to ICT use.
The policy framework was launched today at the Accessible Americas meeting organized by ITU, UNESCO, Brazil and the National Secretariat for the Promotion of the Rights of People with Disabilities of the Human Rights Secretariat of the Presidential Cabinet of the Brazilian Republic (SDH) in São Paolo, Brazil.

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Digital Inclusion: Model ICT accessibility policy report
ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
November 2014 :: 134 pages
pdf: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Digital-Inclusion/Persons-with-Disabilities/Documents/ICT%20Accessibility%20Policy%20Report.pdf
[Excerpt from Foreword]
ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities is a priority for ITU members. At the last ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) ITU members recognized the need to ensure that the one billion people living with some form of disability can use information and communication technology (ICT) for their empowerment. How do we make ICT accessibility a reality?

ICT accessibility means removing barriers so that persons with disabilities can use ICTs. The barriers faced depend on a person’s disability. Our previous publications, Making mobile phones and services accessible and Making television accessible have documented the accessibility needs of persons with visual, hearing, mobility, dexterity, and cognitive disabilities.

One of the key steps to make ICT a reality is to establish an enabling environment for ICT accessibility, just as nations have established enabling environments to authorize competition in the provision of ICT services. A little over ten years ago, countries around the world created policy and regulatory frameworks that unleashed unprecedented growth in mobile and Internet use. These frameworks led to universal access and service levels beyond the imagination of policy-makers in earlier years: by the end of 2014, we expect nearly 7 billion mobile phone subscriptions and almost 3 billion Internet users.

Despite these advances, very few nations today have acted to ensure that persons with disabilities are part of this technology revolution. Persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in using ICTs. I believe that creating and implementing national ICT accessibility policy frameworks will lead to unprecedented growth in accessible ICTs and the empowerment of persons with disabilities. The impact of these policies will be enjoyed by many others, including immigrants, aging and illiterate populations, and will open doors to inclusive education, employment and health services.

This Model ICT accessibility policy report is designed as a tool for national policy-makers and regulators to create their own ICT accessibility policy frameworks. It includes six modules focusing on different aspects of ICT accessibility (amendments to the existing ICT legal framework, public ICT access, mobile communications, television/video programming and public procurement of accessible ICTs) so that countries can prioritize implementation. In all modules the approach is to develop national policies in consultation with persons with disabilities…

…I am convinced that we can make ICT accessibility a reality. Let us now move from words to action and begin formulating, implementing, and monitoring ICT accessibility policies in close consultation with persons with disabilities.
Brahima Sanou, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau