Connecting
Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities for AllThe key to
the information society is universal access. Everyone must have equal
opportunity to participate in the digital age. And no one should be denied the
potential benefits of new information and communication technologies (ICT), not
least because they are hampered by their disabilities. As ICT bring a range of
innovations in the workplace, at home and in every facet of our lives, these
benefits must also be harnessed for the benefit of persons with disabilities.
This year, ITU has adopted the theme: “Connecting Persons with Disabilities:
ICT Opportunities for All” to mark World Telecommunication and Information
Society Day. The World Summit on the Information Society urged Member States to
address the special requirements of persons with disabilities along with other
marginalized and vulnerable groups in their national e-strategies. A further
call was made to encourage design and production of ICT equipment and services
adhering to the Universal Design Principle and the use of assistive technologies
for research and development to facilitate accessibility to ICT for all,
including persons with disabilities.
The last World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-06) held in
Doha, Qatar in 2006, created a new Special Initiative on “Access to
telecommunication services for persons with disabilities”. The Doha Plan of
Action endorsed the Tunis Commitment of building ICT capacity for all, including
persons with disabilities, through the promotion of universal, ubiquitous,
equitable and affordable access to ICT. It encouraged the adoption of universal
design and assistive technologies to ensure that the benefits are evenly
distributed within societies as well as to bridge the digital divide by creating
digital opportunities to harness the full potential for development offered by
state-of-the-art ICT.
During this year’s WTISD, ITU calls upon all stakeholders (policy makers and
regulators as well as operators and industry) to raise awareness on the need to
adopt policies and strategies that would meet the ICT needs of persons with
disabilities by ensuring that both equipment and services are accessible. This
would not only ensure an inclusive information society, but would also enable
Member States to meet their obligations under Article 9 of the Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted by the United Nations General
Assembly in December 2006.
Our focus this year on meeting the ICT needs of persons with disabilities is
aimed at empowering every citizen with information and knowledge, improving the
lines of communication to the remotest and most vulnerable groups, and building
an inclusive information society geared towards the advancement of a better,
more peaceful and productive world. It is clearly our duty today to provide the
opportunities of ICT to all, especially to those of us with disabilities.
As we celebrate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, we
invite all stakeholders — manufacturers, service providers, international
organizations, public and non-governmental organizations as well as policy
makers — to join us in our endeavour to connect everyone, especially the 650
million or so people around the world who live with disabilities, to the
remarkable digital opportunities offered by ICT.
Hamadoun I. Touré
ITU Secretary-General
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