Globally 1 billion people worldwide currently live with some form of disability . The number of older persons is expected to grow to more than 2 billion by 2050, the majority of which will live in less developed regions, while over 1 billion youth are in danger of hearing loss due to their unsafe listening habits. This means that the number of persons affected by a form of disability could touch half of the world's population in the next 30 years, all of whom require accessible information and communication technologies (ICTs).

This WTDC-17 pre-event on ICT accessibility, together for an #accessible world, will bring together ITU Members and related stakeholders from all regions to share their views, challenges and success stories to jointly pave the way forward towards a global implementation process for an inclusive society.

Many countries have already started fostering ICT accessibility in their countries by creating ICT accessibility policy frameworks on public ICT access, mobile communications, TV/video programming, public procurement of accessible ICT and accessible government websites. The session and its networking opportunity will provide practical guidance, recommendations and partnership opportunities to facilitate and promote the work on ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities, including age related disabilities.

The work each of us does in this area makes a difference but only by working together can we make a global change. Please join the "together for an #accessible world" pre-event, networking and pitching opportunity. The pre-event programme includes:

1. An introduction of BDT's work and resources on ICT Accessibility available to support Member States in related implementation in their countries, including its web accessibility and public procurement capacity building programme, Model ICT Accessibility Policy and the work of ITU-D Study Group 1 Question 7/1 on "Access to telecommunication/services by PwD and with specific needs."

2. Interactive discussions on :

- ICT accessibility challenges faced by decision-makers today and identification of steps to overcome these challenges

ITU Members will identify challenges they face and lessons learned in implementing ICT accessibility, to learn from similar experiences and identify implementation challenges that can be overcome or avoided.

- Sharing good practices, success stories and available solutions to implement ICT accessibility

Members and key leaders from all regions will share their positive experiences, views on implementing ICT accessibility solutions and advice on how their experiences can be replicated to inspire other Members to take similar actions in their countries;

- Building an accessible world together and making ICT accessibility a reality
This WTDC-17 pre-event will identify and highlight concrete future steps to be taken with regard to global implementation of ICT accessibility, from where to begin, what to do and how to do it.

Selected panelists will be invited to the podium to discuss one of the three topics above, while the moderator will also encourage comments from the pre-event participants.

Pre-event moderator Mrs Roxanne McElvane Webber, Chair of ITU-D SG1.

Panelists: Representatives from Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Mali, People's Republic of China, Russian Federation, Spain and United States of America. Interventions from the pre-event participants are encouraged.

3. ICT Accessibility Networking and Pitching Opportunity

The WTDC-17 pre-event will conclude with an interactive and informal gathering around a "tea/coffee time" moment that will enable pitching proposals, face-to -face networking, development of partnership opportunities and agreements announced by partners aiming to support ICT accessibility projects and activities.

Speakers:

• Mr Hugo Dario Miguel, Undersecretary of Planification, Ministerio de Modernización, Argentina
• Ms Amela Odobasic, Head of Public Affairs, Communications Regulatory Agency, Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Mr Juarez Quadros, President, Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (ANATEL), Brazil
• Ms Aihua Wang , Chief Engineer of Planning and Design Research Institute, CAICT, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, People’s Republic of China
• Mr Manuel Emilio Ruiz Gutiérrez, President of SUTEL Council, Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones, Costa Rica
• Mr Severin Gragba, Chief of e-Handicap Project, Ministère de la communication de l’économie numérique et de la poste (MICENUP), Côte d’Ivoire
• Mr Abdoulaye Dembele, Chief of Product, Société des télécommunications du Mali (SOTELMA), Mali
• Ms Blanca González, Head of International Relations, Ministerio de Energía, Turismo y Agenda Digital, Spain
• Mr Brendan Carr, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission, United States of America

Join this pre-event to be together for an #accessible world!