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Abstracts
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11:00 - 11:30 |
Opening Ceremony
- Welcome remarks – Master of Ceremony: Dr. Shi Ping, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Welcome keynote address - Dr. Eun-Ju Kim, Head, ITU Regional office for Asia and the Pacific
- Opening keynote address - Her Royalty High Princess of Tonga, Tonga (Kingdom of)
- Welcome address - Prof. Ang Wei Tech, i-CREATe School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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11:30 - 12:45 |
Session 1 – Introduction to the accessibility agenda: the international and the Asia and Pacific perspective
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The United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disability (UN
CRDP): overview and implication for the international community - Ms. Silvia Lavagnoli, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR)
The adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2006 enshrines an understanding of disability as a human rights issue, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and clarifies the obligations of States to promote, protect and fulfil the rights of persons with disabilities.
The importance of accessibility in enabling persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms is explored in depth throughout the Convention. Article 9, article 3 and numerous other provisions dealing with specific rights in the Convention explicitly identify accessibility mandates for their implementation.
A legally binding instrument, the Convention requires States Parties to adopt all measures required for its effective implementation. This obligation applies to States both at national level as well as in the context of their international cooperation, in support of national priorities. Furthermore, the United Nations system is also required to promote implementation of the Convention, as human rights are at the heart of the UN Charter and should infuse every aspect of United Nations work.
The endorsement of a human rights approach to disability and the implementation of the CRPD therefore offer important opportunities and new impetus to promote the development and implementation of accessibility standards and guidelines and the development and production of affordable assistive technologies and products.
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The work of ITU in promoting ICT Standards for Accessibility - Mr. Wisit Atipakayoon, Advisor, ITU Regional office for Asia and the Pacific, International Telecommunication Union
In this presentation, the activities of ITU, the leading agency of the United Nations for Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs) are explained with an overview of the agency and with full of details.
A detailed description of the main aspects dealing with standards and the activities that the development
sector is running. Most recently, very important texts regarding persons with disabilities have been adopted
by the World Telecommunication Development Conference, while the Standard Sector is working towards the promotion
of the standards features that can make ICTs accessible for all.
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ICT Accessibility: from Principle to Practice - Mr. Montian Buntan, Senator, Government of Kingdom of Thailand
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12:45 - 13:00 |
Questions and Answers |
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13:00 - 14:00 |
Lunch break |
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14:00 - 15:15 |
Session 2 – National Perspectives in the Asia-Pacific region |
Building capacity for harnessing ICTs for disempowered /marginalized communities in Sri Lanka”- eNABLE
- Mr. Jagath Ratnayake, Assistant Director, Policy and International
Relations, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
Mr. Jagath Ratnayake, Assistant Director, Policy and International
Relations, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL)
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) - the
national regulator for telecommunications, with the assistance of
telecommunications operators in Sri Lanka initiated a project called e-NABLE
in 2005. The project serves as a critical enabler for socio-economic
development of marginalized persons and/or persons with disabilities in
accessing to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) there by
creating an equitable information society.
With the assistance of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) the
TRCSL is implementing the project to use ICTs for empowerment of students at
schools, universities, vocational training centers, persons in villages with
special needs.
The next phase of the project will focus on training of trainers on ICT
skills, development of specialized software for the visually handicapped
persons.
The project has so far been a success in Sri Lanka and highlights the fact
that “Disability is not an Inability”. |
Empowering Persons with Disabilities through ICT - Ms. Grace Amberong, National Computer Center (NCC), Philippines
Today, one must make full use of ICT to survive in this competitive “information Society”. When newer and more technologically advanced tools develop quickly, without giving full access to marginalized sector including people with disabilities, the problem of “digital divide” only widens.
In 2003 the Philippines hosted the “Interregional ICT Seminar”, the participating countries collectively passed and submitted two documents adopted by the United Nations - the “Manila Declaration on Accessible ICT” focuses on digital divide and the human capacities divide and the “Manila Accessible ICT Design Recommendations” deals with universal concept of flexibility to accommodate those who run low bandwidth settings, those who use cell phones to synthesize text and those who access the Internet via alternative devices.
Having launched ICT accessibility, it called for sharing with key players both from government and private sectors, the specific “know-how” in making accessible ICT through various programs and initiatives.
In the government, it is our duty to bring the benefits of ICT accessibility to everybody. We believe that ICT could just be the great equalizer and accessible ICT is not only for people with disabilities but for all of us who are thankful that there are no barriers in using our abilities.
Finally, “Cooperation is key to strength and might”.
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China Web Accessibility Standard - Ms. Wu Yinghua, Senior Engineer of China Academy of Telecom Research (CATR), China
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The experiences of ICTs accessibility in Thailand - Ms. Wantanee Phantachat, National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Thailand
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Accessibility to ICTs for persons with disabilities in Cambodia - Mr. Riel Barey, Regulator, Department of Telecom-Policy Regulation as Regulator, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Cambodia.
As we know, at its 2009 session, ITU Council adopted the theme: “Better city, better life with ICTs” to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) in 2010, is a reminder that communications technologies must be employed and disposed of – in a manner that raises living standards while protecting the environment.
And as the speech of Doctor Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General, expressed that ICT are constantly reshaping the way the world communicates while creating the opertunities for a better life through long-term, sustainable development not least among the most vulnerable sections of our society.
H.E So Khun, the minister of Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) added that the flows of new technologies to the Kingdom of Cambodia help benefit our nation as well as increasing the development of Cambodia economy. The Kingdom of Cambodia was admitted to be the full membership of ITU on April 1952. Since and therefore the MPTC would like to thank the ITU for their continued support to Cambodia with organizing events, expert advice and technology road maps.
As the leading specialized agency of the United Nations for ICT, ITU looks towards its Members to raise awareness of the role of information and communication technologies in creating the opportunities for a better life through long-term, sustainable development, not least among the most vulnerable sections of our society. In the urban context, ICTs have increasingly dictated lifestyles and behaviors patterns and contributed to the growth of trade and commerce, improved governance and municipal services, and revolutionized entertainment through the development of rapid communications, both mobile and fixed.
As the under the umbrella of ITU for ICT, the Kingdom of Cambodia is one among the Asean Countries and also one of the 191 members of the ITU, can update itself to cope with the technological convergence that the world to focus on in the near future for the sake of Cambodia people. In Cambodia ICT has expanded exponentially in line with the Economic Growth of the Country, it is expected that by 2016, 100% of communes will have basic and dedicated ICT services.
Last but not least, I strongly believe this event, with the outcome of this workshop, could really help to raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bring the digital divide and also take more actively into account for Accessibility to ICTs .
I would like also to take this opportunity to express my deep regards thanks to i-CREATe and ITU that have co-organize such interesting one-day workshop on Accessibility to ICT that I expect to bring the best practice, experiences and some good comments from which my country Cambodia to learn.
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15:15 - 15:30 |
Questions and Answers |
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15:30 - 16:00 |
Tea break |
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16:00 - 17:15 |
Session 3 – National Perspectives in the Asia-Pacific region
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The Daisy Consortium activities in the field of accessibility - Mr. Hiroshi Kawamura, President of the DAISY Consortium, Japan
DAISY, Digital Accessible Information System, is a set of standards to create accessible electronic publications known as ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2005. The speaker will present current status of DAISY in Asia-Pacific Region as well as the rest of the world.
Accessibility of knowledge in publications of all formats for everybody including persons with disabilities will be discussed. However, the speaker will address the critical importance of development of the Universal Design concept in combination with assistive technologies in particular in ICT development.
Main streaming accessible publications is going to be pursued by DAISY and EPUB, an open standard for commercial e-books. The speaker will discuss current on-going coordinated revision process of DAISY and EPUB.
Trends in Digital Library will be discussed from accessibility perspectives.
Copyright issues and debates at the WIPO Stakeholders Platform will be referred to examine the implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at international and national level.
DAISY initiatives to tackle global issues such as Disaster Risk Reduction or HIV/AIDS through sharing knowledge by all community members including persons with disabilities will be presented to showcase the needs and effectiveness of community based approach supported by DAISY.
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Accessibility and Innovation, A Shared Responsibility - Ms. Yu Mei Qin (Ms. Maggie Qi), IBM, China
The presentation will introduce current trends of accessibility of ICT, share some best practice of public and private sectors in China.
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17:15 - 17:30 |
Questions and Answers and wrap-up of the workshop |
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