Abstracts

Claudia Gray, Universidad de las Américas-Puebla, Mexico
“Internet accessibility and development” (World Telecommunication Development Conference 2010 Hyderabad, India)

Internet without considering accessibility, will deepen the digital divide affecting persons with disabilities. The World Telecommunication Development Conference 2010 approved a Resolution for Access to information and communication technology by persons with disabilities. This Resolution considers the main aspects of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities related to the measures that must be taken by States Parties to comply with ensuring ICT/Internet service access, promoting design/production of accessible ICT/Internet, inter alia. Disabilities issues are crosscutting, therefore, access to Internet by persons with disabilities must be discussed in IGF and should contribute to mainstream the importance of timely considering accessibility in Internet

Axel Leblois/Martin Gould, g3ict
“Benchmarking ICT Accessibility/closing the gap”

The signing of the CRPD by 145 countries and its ratification by 85 have raised considerable hopes among persons with disabilities, among which the adoption of ICT accessibility policies and program frameworks by governments and civil society. What gap exist towards realizing this objective is an important data point for organizations of persons with disabilities, industry, service providers and governments. In this presentation, Axel Leblois will discuss the early findings of the research conducted by G3ict among ratifying countries which covers for each country the status of Disability Rights, the implementation of ICT accessibility policies and programs and practical ICT accessibility results for persons with disabilities. Once completed, all data collected will be made public and promoted as the “Digital Accessibility and Inclusion Index for Persons with Disabilities” to serve as a benchmarking tool for all stakeholders involved around the world.

Jorge Plano, Argentina
“Web Accessibility and Older Persons”

The ageing process implies, with big individual differences, changes that affect the possibilities of access of older persons to the Internet services, specifically through the Web. This presentation will show how the lack of Web accessibility impacts more and more the life of older persons. At present, the government of some countries are discussing and preparing a proposal to the United Nation of a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons and this must include the rights related to digital technologies.