The G3ict

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The G3ict ITU Toolkit for Policy Makers on
e-Accessibility Service Needs for Persons with
DisabilitiesBy Axel LebloisExecutive
Director, G3ict

• ITU Workshop on Accessibility
• October 13-14-15, Bamako, Mali

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Agenda

• Objectives of the e-Accessibility Toolkit
• How the Toolkit was developed
• Main features and example of resources available
• The Self-assessment Framework and Index

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e-Accessibility Toolkit for Policy Makers -
Objectives

• Provide resources to facilitate the
  implementation of the ICT accessibility agenda of
  the CRPD at national level
• Global repository of good practices
• Technical and standardization references
• Policy making tools
• Knowledge base for capacity building programs
  serving Regulators, Government Agencies, Disabled
  Persons Organizations and Civil Society

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Toolkit Features

• Delivered on-line
• Designed with requirements of policy makers at
  its centre
• Global collaborative effort
• Does not re-invent the wheel but relies on best
  available resources
• Ability for users to suggest additions and
  modifications to the Toolkit Editors

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Toolkit Editorial Committee

• Dónal Rice NDA/CEUD, NUI-Galway (Editorial
  Coordinator)
• Asenath Mpatwa, ITU-D
• Ambassador Luis Gallegos, G3ict
• Axel Leblois, G3ict
• Clara Luz Alvarez
• Tamas Babinszki, Even Grounds
• Kevin Carey, RNIB/World Blind Union
• Anne-Rivers Forcke, IBM Corporation
• Rune Halvorsen, NOVA
• Inmaculada Placienca Porrero, European Commission
• Felicity Rawlins, IBM Corporation
• Andrea Saks, ITU
• Licia Sbattella, Politecnico di Milano
• Susan Schorr, ITU
• James Thurston, Microsoft
• Bob English, TecAccess

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Contributors

• J. E. Baker, L. McArthur, J. Silva, Jutta
  Treviranus, Adaptive Technology Resource Centre,
  University of Toronto
• David Baylor, WBU
• Hardik Bhatt and Karen Tamley, City of Chicago
•  Fernando Botelho, Literacy Bridge Mais
  Diferenças
•  Gerald Craddock, NDA/CEUD, Ireland
•  Bob English, TecAccess
•  Jonathan Freeman, WGBH
•  Angela Garabagiu, Council of Europe
•  Larry Goldberg, WGBH
•  Bill Joley, International Center for Disability
  Resources on the Internet (ICDRI)
•  Mike Jones, Wireless RERC, Georgia Institute of
  Technology
•  Hiroshi Kawamura, DAISY Consortium
•  Ben Lippincott, Wireless RERC, Georgia
  Institute of Technology
•  Mike Paciello, The Paciello Group
•  Helen Petrie, University of York
•  David Sloan, University of Dundee
• Mike Starling, WBU
•  Karen Tamley, City of Chicago
•  Gregg Vanderheiden, University of
  Winsconsin-Madison

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(UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNTIL DECEMBER 2009)

• Web site
• www.e-accessibilitytoolkit.org

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Example Television Overview
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Example Television Accessibility Resources

• Closed captioning, sub-titling and sign
  languageDefinitions / processFeatures most
  desired by persons with disabilitiesApplicable
  standardsSample of regulations
• Video Description ServicesDefinitions /
  processFeatures most desired by persons with
  disabilitiesApplicable standardsSample of
  regulations
• Transition to Digital Television IPTV and
  Convergent Media IPTV and Web video
  accessibilityDTV / IPTV equipment, interface
  and controlsIPTV and Web video accessibility
  standardsSample of regulations

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Video Description Services,Sample of regulations

• U.S. Federal Communications Commission Video
  Description Orders, Public Notices, Notices,
  Press Releases and FactsheetSummary Fact
  sheets, reports and regulations from a 2000 FCC
  rulemaking, reversed in 2002, requiring U.S.
  broadcasters to describe 4 hours of programming
  per week. Reference http//www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/v
  ideo-description.html Key words Video
  Description Regulations HistoryTarget
  audiences Policy makers Broadcasters
  Advocates
• House of Representatives (USA)  H.R.6320 21st
  Century Communications and Video Accessibility
  Act 2008Summary Proposed U.S. legislation
  mandating accessible IPTV and internet content
  (captions, descriptions), and accessible menu
  guides and user interfaces. Reinstates overturned
  TV description requirements. Reference
  http//www.coataccess.org/node/32 Key words
  IPTV Accessibility LegislationTarget
  audiences Policy makers Broadcasters
  Advocates  
• Canadian-Radio Television and Telecommunications
  Commission (CRTC)  Broadcasting Public Notice
  CRTC 2007-101Summary Canadian requirements for
  television program distributors (broadcast,
  cable, satellite) to carry video description in
  their signals and ensure pass through to the
  consumer.Reference http//www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/arc
  hive/2007/pb2007-54.htm Key words Video
  description Regulations ComplaintsTarget
  audiences Policy makers Broadcasters
  Advocates 
• Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC)
  Access to TV for persons visual
  impairmentsSummary Synospis of what
  description is, who uses it, Canadian description
  providers and links to regulations. Reference
  http//www.crtc.gc.ca/ENG/INFO_SHT/b322.htm Key
  words Video Description RegulationsTarget
  audiences Policy makers Broadcasters Advocates

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Case Studies Database
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Self-Assessment FrameworkPurpose

• ICT accessibility dispositions are embedded and
  scattered in a large number of articles of the
  CRPD
• Check list established to
• Review compliance
• Consensus building
• Prioritize action steps
• Organized to help shape policy
• Digital Accessibility and Inclusion Index
  developed from this check list to measure
  progress and compare countries experiences

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How was the Self Assessment Framework Developed?

• Review of the CRPD to identify all provisions
  that included the terms communications,
  technology, information or information services,
  accommodation, and access, accessible, and
  accessibility.
• 3 legs
• An exhaustive listing which included the
  self-assessment items (50 items)
• 11 items reflecting the basic capacity of a
  country to implement those provisions identified
  in 1
• A measurement framework (10 items) of the
  systemic and/or individual impact(s) of a
  countrys fulfillment of the ICT provisions of
  the CRPD

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Samples of Data Points 1st Leg Country
Commitment

• Do the Countrys laws and/or policies
  affirmatively promote the provision of reasonable
  accommodations vis-a-vis ICT or AT in order to
  ensure equality for persons with disabilities?
• Does Country law or policy exist which requires
  signage in all public buildings and facilities be
  posted in Braille?
• Does the Country have laws, policies or programs
  that ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy
  access to television programs, films, theatre and
  other cultural activities, in accessible formats?

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Sample of Data Points 2nd Leg Country
Capacity to Implement

• Is there a governmental body or department
  responsible for disability matters in the
  country?
• Is there a yearly amount for the support of DPOs
  (disabled persons organizations) from the Country
  working in the field of digital access for
  persons with disabilities?
• Are there any special items, topics in the k-12
  school curricula about digital access and
  persons with -disabilities?
• Are there any common indicators developed by the
  Country to evaluate the status of digital access
  by persons with disabilities?

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Sample of Data Points 3rd LegCountry
Implementation and Impact

• Are programs in place to facilitate the usage of
  telephony by persons with disabilities (relay
  services, accessible public phones, accessible
  handsets etc?
• Are government web sites accessible?
• Are assistive technologies available to students
  with disabilities at major universities?
• Are there accessible public electronic kiosks or
  ATMs deployed in the country?

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Consensus Building Benefits

• Opportunity to use the framework to establish a
  dialogue among multiple stakeholders
• Ensure that everyone views the Self-assessment
  results in an objective and holistic perspective
• Agree on strengths and areas for improvement and
• Prioritize areas for improvement that will be
  taken into further action planning

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The Self-Assessment Framework A Dashboard for
Policy Makers

• Analyze country commitments
• Identify capacity and infrastructure for
  implementation
• Assess countrys implementation and impact
• Draw links between commitment and
  implementation/impact
• Establish gaps and rank items based on feedback
  from disabled persons organizations and other
  stakeholders
• Generate recommendations and action plan via
  consensus
• Compare results with other countries with Digital
  Accessibility and Inclusion Index in future years

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Thank You
The G3ict Initiative is made possible
thanks to the generous support of the following
organizations

For more information axel_leblois_at_g3ict.org