Although Arab countries are increasingly committed to realize the rights of persons with disabilities, progress towards that end is slow. People with disabilities remain one of the most marginalized population groups in the Arab region, facing multiple barriers that hinder participation on an equal basis and places them at a disadvantage. Technology could help to bridge these barriers, enabling access for all by building more inclusive societies. ADIP harnesses these capabilities, providing accessible information and tools to advance e-accessibility in the Arab region.

ADIP supports policymakers to develop e-accessibility national policies and to devise guidelines for implementation by providing knowledge, interactive digital template tools, capacity-building and best practices in the field. The digital platform provides access to information on disability in the Arab region, including reports, studies, laws and regulations, toolkits and best practices, in a way that would meet the needs of persons with disabilities. It also offers a secure space where government officials and disability focal points across the Arab region can share documents for discussion. The work under ADIP helps to bridge the digital divide and enable all society members to access and use ICT.

https://e-inclusion.unescwa.org/

• Africa
• Asia and Pacific

• People with disabilities

The accessibility toolbar, developed for ADIP platform, will be used for other ESCWA platforms to ensure their accessibility. ADIP is compatible with WCAG 2.0 standard. Government web sites in the Arab region could be inspired from it to apply the same interface and become compatible with this standard. Although the current platform focuses on persons with disabilities, the e-accessibility tools as well as the toolbar developments can be used extended to other beneficiary groups such as older persons.

A sustainability plan was developed with recommendations that is being put in place to ensure the sustainability of the project. Establishing a coordination mechanism that ensures that the continuance of the work started by the project continues beyond its conclusion. The periodic update of developed tools, including the digital platform ensures the technical sustainability of delivered products.

The Information Society should respect peace and uphold the fundamental values of freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, shared responsibility, and respect for nature. In this context, ADIP strives to enhance equality and reduce digital gap by allowing all individuals to access ICT tools, services, applications.