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DIGITAL SMART FOCUS IN SUPPORT OF OVERCOMING DISABILITIES DIGITAL SMART FOCUS IN SUPPORT OF OVERCOMING DISABILITIES

12 December 2013 at 14:30 h - 17:00 h, Conference room V at the Palais des NationsBy Axel Leblois, President and Executive Director, G3ict

United Nations Office in Geneva Digital Smart Working Group

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G3ict – Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs: BackgroundG3ict – Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs: Background

Launched with the support of UNDESA in December 2006

To Facilitate the Implementation of the ICT Accessibility dispositions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities among States Parties

Activities funded by the private sector: AT&T, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Adobe, Time Warner, Telstra,

T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, Deque, Hans Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, Dominic Foundation, Telecom Italia

Works with UN agencies in advancing policies and good practices around the world

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What is at Stake?

1 billion people live with some form of disability, 15% of the World Population

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A Large Growing Population at Risk of Being Excluded from Digital AccessA Large Growing Population at Risk of Being Excluded from Digital Access

Out of the one billion persons living with a disability*:

80% live in the developing world

Over half of persons aged 65+ live with a disability, fast growing population segment worldwide

Disability affects all age groups: 13% of all public school students K to 12 in the United States live with a disability (Source: U.S. DOE)*Source: WHO

World Bank Report on Disability 2010

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Recognizing the Issue: A Challenge for Policy Makers and National Census OrganizationsRecognizing the Issue: A Challenge for Policy Makers and National Census Organizations

“People with disabilities are often invisible in official statistics”Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2006, UNESCO

And they are mostly invisible in daily life as well

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Being Digital Smart Means Eliminating Barriers Caused by SocietyBeing Digital Smart Means Eliminating Barriers Caused by Society

Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society

Article 1 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

6

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Overcoming Disabilities: Digital Smart Opportunities

Deafness/hard of hearing

Blindness/low vision

Limited motion/reduced dexterity

Impaired cognition

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Common Barriers Which a Digital Smart Focus Can EliminateCommon Barriers Which a Digital Smart Focus Can Eliminate

A television program or emergency announcement is not signed or captioned for a deaf person

A web site is not be accessible to a blind person using a screen reader or to a paralyzed person using alternative data input devices

A mobile phone does not offer alternative user interfaces for a person with dexterity issues, low vision or cognitive challenges

An ATM is too high for a wheelchair user or does not have a text to speech output for a visually impaired person

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Are those Digital Barriers Widespread? Are those Digital Barriers Widespread?

July 20, 2013

“NEW DELHI: In a first such exercise of its kind, the government has found that only two of its over 200 websites are disabled-friendly…

The government found that websites of only two ministries - ministry of external affairs and ministry of social justice and empowerment - were compliant to Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW), which is essential for making websites accessible to the disabled.”

Why the e-participation of persons with disabilities matters

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Are those Digital Barriers Widespread? (Cont’d)

Are those Digital Barriers Widespread? (Cont’d)

• 39% of non adopters of broadband in the U.S.* and 50% in the UK have some type of disability

• 65% of Senior citizens (over the age of 65) do not have broadband-at-home in the United States

• Mobile phones adoption closely related to age and disability**

*Source: FCC Report by John Horrigan, February 2010 **Pew Charitable Trust Research on mobile phone usage, 2013

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Digital Smart Empowers Persons with Disabilities to:Digital Smart Empowers Persons with Disabilities to:

Work Learn Be Safe Enjoy Culture Communicate Exercise their Political Rights Be active in commerce

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“If anybody asks me what the Internet means to me… “If anybody asks me what the Internet means to me…

…I will tell him without hesitation: To me (a quadriplegic) the Internet occupies the most important part in my life. It is my feet that can take me to any part of the world; it is my hands which help me to accomplish my work; it is my best friend – it gives my life meaning.”

Dr. Zhang Xu, Founder and Director of Bethesda Rehabilitation Ministry of Anshan, China

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The Good News: Digital Smart Solutions Are Available Today for:The Good News: Digital Smart Solutions Are Available Today for:

Web sites

e-books

Television

Computer interfaces

Mobile and fixed phones

ATMs and electronic kiosks

e-government electronic services

Public displays and messaging

Digital interfaces for consumer products

Why the e-participation of persons with disabilities matters

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Example of Alternative Modes of Communication for Mobile Example of Alternative Modes of Communication for Mobile

Visual Text-to-Speech

Hearing Video Relay Service with

sign language Speech

Peer-to-peer video for sign language

Dexterity Voice recognition for

controls and input Cognition

Icon interface

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Driven by Mobile and Price Performance of ElectronicsDriven by Mobile and Price Performance of Electronics

Captioning service

SMS-to-Avatar sign translation, Tunisia

A public service announcement on Japanese television

Mobile app with Daisy books GPS for mobility independence

Screen reader

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Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly December 13, 2006

8th Human Rights Treaty and 1st of this Millennium

158 countries have signed it and 138 ratified it as of December 2013

March 30, 2007: Jamaica first country to ratify the Convention in the world!

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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An Effective Framework for Digital Smart Policies and Programs for Persons with Disabilities

An Effective Framework for Digital Smart Policies and Programs for Persons with Disabilities

The Convention affirms the importance of “information and communication, in enabling persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms”

It requires ICTs to be accessible and assistive technologies available to persons with disabilities

(Preamble, article 9)

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Solutions Exist: Practical Information and Case Studies – ITU – G3ict ReportsSolutions Exist: Practical Information and Case Studies – ITU – G3ict Reports

Making TV Accessible Making Mobile Phones and Services Accessible

Universal Service Funds for Persons with Disabilities

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Why Is the Private Sector Interested: Quiz!Why Is the Private Sector Interested: Quiz!

What is the percentage of the total U.S. adult population of Microsoft Windows customers likely to benefit from Accessibility Features?

(As measured by Microsoft Research)

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Windows Users: 57% Are Likely to Benefit from Accessibility FeaturesWindows Users: 57% Are Likely to Benefit from Accessibility Features

57% of adult computer users (age 18-64 in the US) are likely or very likely to benefit from accessibility features

1 in 4 users experiences a visual difficulty.

1 in 4 experience pain in wrists or hands.

1 in 5 has a hearing difficulty.Study commissioned by Microsoft,

Conducted by Forrester Research in 2003

Not likelyto benefit

43%

Very likelyto benefit

17% Likelyto benefit

40%

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Mobile: A Game Changer for Empowering Persons with Disabilities Mobile: A Game Changer for Empowering Persons with Disabilities

Packed with enabling technologies: GPS, NFC, Camera, OCR, TTS, Speech

recognition, 3G, 4G etc.

Anytime anywhere personalized device

Unprecedented economies of scale

For the first time in the history of ICTs, competition drives accessibility!

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3rd M-Enabling Summit June 9-11 2014, Washington, D.C. 3rd M-Enabling Summit June 9-11 2014, Washington, D.C.

Bringing together:

Organizations of seniors and persons with disabilities

Manufacturers Application

developers Mobile service

providers Policy makers Private sector Special Educators,

Rehabilitation professionals

Sharing technologies, processes, policies and business models

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The United Nations Must be Digitally Smart to Ensure Universal Access to its Own ActivitiesThe United Nations Must be Digitally Smart to Ensure Universal Access to its Own Activities

Web Sites Electronic documents and reports E-learning platforms Braille and sign language options Meetings Video and web cast transmissions Tele-conferencing systems Telephone switchboards Procurement policies

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Thank You

For Your Attention!

www.g3ict.org

www.e-accessibilitytoolkit.org

www.m-enabling.com