Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals number 9 (SDG target 9.c) aims to increase access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for all including people with disabilities. Therefore, this article focuses on persons with disabilities by analysing the international and the regional normative frameworks on disability and ICT and highlighting the challenges persons with disabilities face in accessing ICT based on the available evidence. It also analyzed the situation of persons with disabilities in ICT, and current practices in some countries regarding access to ICT for persons with disabilities. The article likewise concludes with the ways forward to increase accessibility of ICT for persons with disabilities.
Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Introduction
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank Report on Disability (2011), provides a global statistics on disability which indicates that 15% of the world’s population, or more than one billion people in the world today have a disability; and 80% of these people live in developing nations.
Information and communication technologies (ICT), when accessible and available, can serve as critical enablers that allow persons with disabilities to realise full and effective opportunities to participate, on the basis of equality, in all aspects of society and development. ICTs can help persons with disabilities have a greater access to knowledge and independent living. However, there are a few principles that should be taken into consideration while introducing ICTs. Whether one is considering the respective needs of rich and poor, rural and urban, those with access to the internet and those without (the digital divide), ICT has the power to bring people together but, where persons with disabilities lack access to ICTs, they can also leave people behind (UNESCO, 2020).
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs provide a powerful framework to guide local communities, countries and the international community toward the achievement of disability-inclusive development. It pledges to leave no one behind, including people with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups, and has recognized disability as a cross-cutting issue to be considered in the implementation of all of its goals.
Therefore, the Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 9) focuses on Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. It has 8 targets in which target 9.c is based on increasing access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in developed and developing countries (UN, 2018).
This article will address access to ICTs as it relates to persons with disabilities, beginning by presenting the international normative frameworks in this area. An overview of global ICT access and usage among persons with disabilities is presented. The article also illuminates national initiatives and ends with recommendations to improve access to ICT among persons with disabilities.
Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) (2006), describes 'Disability' as an “evolving concept” and says that “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 on an equal basis with others”. Disability is an outcome of an interaction between health conditions (such as cerebral palsy, depression or lung disease), and environmental factors (such as inaccessible transportation, limited social support or air pollution).
Disability is diverse not only in extent but also in kind. There are people who live with severe sensory, mobility, communication or cognitive impairments (e.g. people who are blind or deaf, wheelchair users, or children with intellectual disabilities) but there are also people with mild and moderate impairments who need help to keep these impairments from worsening. Finally, as we age, we experience multimorbidities in which several, mild or moderate impairments across many body functions occur together, producing relatively high levels of overall disability.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
ICT (Information and Communications Technology - or Technologies) include any
communication device or application such as radio, television, cellular phones, computers, satellite systems as well as network hardware and software and associated services (UNESCO, 2020).
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the 193 Member States of the United Nations at the General Assembly in September 2015. It outlines a transformative vision for economic, social and environmental development and will guide the work of the Organization towards this vision for the 15 years.
Likewise, the 2030 Agenda provides a powerful framework to guide local communities, countries and the international community toward the achievement of Disability–Inclusive Development. The 2030 Agenda (SDGs) pledges to leave no one behind, including persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups, and recognizes disability as a cross–cutting issue to be considered in the implementation of all of its goals.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 Goals and 169 targets as well as 238 indicators, sets out an ambitious vision for sustainable development and integrates its economic, social and environmental dimensions. This new Agenda enshrines the expectations, aspirations and priorities of the international community to be achieved by 2030 (UN, 2018).
SDG 9 and its Targets
The SDG 9 focuses on ‘Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure’. It details that, investments in infrastructure, transport, irrigation, energy and information and communication technology are crucial to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities in many countries. It has long been recognized that growth in productivity and incomes, and improvements in health and education outcomes require investment in infrastructure.
Inclusive and sustainable industrial development is the primary source of income generation, allows for rapid and sustained increases in living standards for all people, and provides the technological solutions to environmentally sound industrialization.
Technological progress is the foundation of efforts to achieve environmental objectives, such as increased resource and energy-efficiency. Without technology and innovation, industrialization will not happen, and without industrialization, development will not happen.
Therefore, SDG 9 has 8 targets which are as follows:
Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a
focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030,
significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries.
Target 9.3: Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.
Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure
and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.
Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
Target 9.a: Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.
Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities.
Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to
information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2030 (UN, 2019).
SDG 9.c and PWDs
SDG target 9.c commits to significantly increase access to ICT and to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet or ICT generally in developed and developing countries by 2030. This represents a crucial target in the development of digital inclusion, in particular for persons with disabilities.
The reach and power of ICT has grown tremendously in recent decades. In today’s digital age, ICT plays a central role in nearly all aspects of life. ICTs affect how people work, play, vote and interact. For persons with disabilities, ICTs can also represent a powerful opportunity to improve quality of life, enhance inclusion and social engagement and make independent living possible: “For most people, technology makes things easier. For persons with disabilities, technology makes things possible”. ICTs can offer persons with disabilities opportunities for education, work, leisure, social interaction and political participation as well as provide access to public services and information. Online access to public services, e-learning materials which can be adapted to the needs of students with disabilities, and text-to-voice devices, among others, are indeed giving persons with disabilities the ability to further engage in society.
As information and communication move increasingly online, digital technologies present an unprecedented opportunity for the inclusion of persons with disabilities. At the same time, they also present a major risk of leaving persons with disabilities further behind, in cases where these technologies, products, content and services are not created with accessibility in mind. Increasingly, digital inclusion – i.e. the ability of all persons, including persons with disabilities, to access and use ICTs – and ICT accessibility must be seen as a critical element for ensuring inclusion and the achievement of other SDGs for persons with disabilities (UN, 2019).
International Normative Frameworks on Disability and ICT
The current international normative frameworks, which include provisions on ICT and persons with disabilities, focus mainly on affordable and equitable access, on removing barriers in access to ICT for persons with disabilities and on promoting ICTs that respond to the needs of persons with disabilities. Some of these normative frameworks are as follows:
1- United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) (2006): A key framework in this regard is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) (2006), which recognizes the critical role that information and communication plays in ensuring that persons with disabilities fully enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Article 4(g) of UNCRPD calls also for promoting research and development and enhancing the availability and use of new technologies, including ICTs. In addition, the Article 9 is dedicated to accessibility and stipulates that States Parties should take appropriate measures to ensure persons with disabilities have access, on an equal basis with others, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems. To ensure this access to ICT, the Article 9 further calls for removing barriers to information, communication and other services including electronic services and emergency services and to promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible ICT at an early stage. The Article 21 urges private entities and the mass media, which provide services and information through the Internet, to make these accessible to persons with disabilities. ICT also plays a key role in meaningful habilitation and rehabilitation, and the Article 26 calls on States Parties to promote the availability, knowledge and use of assistive technologies used in this regard.
2- The International Telecommunication Regulations (2012): This is one of the major international frameworks focusing on information and communications, specifically calls on Member States to promote access for persons with disabilities to international telecommunication services. In addition, an outcome document of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the Geneva Plan of Action (2003), calls for full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the information society and encourages the design and production of ICT equipment and services that meet the needs of persons with disabilities and promote the development of technologies in line with the Universal Design Principle. It also addresses the need to nurture local capacity for the creation and distribution of software in the local context for the population, including persons with disabilities. Another WSIS outcome document, the Tunis Commitment (2005), also stressed that the needs of persons with disabilities should be taken into account in providing equitable and affordable access to ICTs. Furthermore, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+10 Review and Strategic Directions for Building Inclusive Knowledge Societies for Persons with Disabilities (2013) states that for ICT to be accessible, persons with disabilities need to be able to “perceive output information, understand it and act upon it”.
Other international frameworks that stress the importance of ensuring access to ICTs for persons with disabilities include the New Urban Agenda (2016), which calls for facilitating access for persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, to ICTs and systems. It also commits to promote the development of national ICT policies and e-government strategies to make ICT accessible to the public, including persons with disabilities.
In addition, several international normative frameworks have recognized the importance of international cooperation in expanding access to ICTs. This is particularly relevant for persons with disabilities for whom state-of-the-art ICTs can make a crucial difference with regards to their independent living. UNCRPD Article 32 highlights the importance of international cooperation in the facilitation of access to and sharing of accessible and assistive technologies, some of which are ICTs. In the same vein, SDG target 17.8 commits to fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for the least developed countries and enhance the use of enabling technology, particularly ICT (UN, 2019).
Regional Normative Frameworks on ICT and Disability
Normative frameworks on ICT established at the regional levels have also reflected the needs and perspectives of persons with disabilities.
1- The European Union Digital Agenda (2010): It emphasizes the importance of accessibility of websites and online services, and calls for addressing the challenges of accessibility and usability of persons with disabilities by helping them participate in digital society, including by training them. In this Digital Agenda, the European Commission commits to systematically evaluate accessibility in revisions of legislation, following the UNCRPD. Relatedly, the European Accessibility Act (2015) seeks to improve the functioning of the internal market for accessible products and services by eliminating obstacles caused by divergent legislation in order to facilitate accessibility for persons with disabilities.
The European Union directive on “the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies” (2016) aims to improve the accessibility of public sector websites and mobile applications, particularly for persons with disabilities.
2- The Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (CIADDIS): It was adopted in 1999 to advance the rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities. While this instrument does not specifically mention access to ICTs, there are directives that encourage States Parties to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities including by providing accessible communications. Within the framework of the Organization of American States, the Program of Action for the Decade of the Americas for Persons with Disabilities (2006–2016) called for the elimination of communication and information barriers in all communications media and public services to improve access for persons with disabilities (measure 5.f) and for designing and executing education programmes using new ICTs to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities (measure 3.f).
The Action Plan for the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean (eLAC2015): It adopted in 2013 recognizes that ICTs are tools for economic development and social inclusion. Its Goal 6 commits to promote ICT access and use by persons with disabilities with emphasis on the development of applications that consider standards and criteria on inclusion and accessibility. The Digital Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean (eLAC2018) adopted in 2015, complements the eLAC2015, with an emphasis on achieving universal access to digital services and content production including vulnerable groups, which implicitly includes persons with disabilities (Objective 1). The eLAC2018 also ensures ICT access for vulnerable groups to improve their social, educational, cultural and economic integration (Objective 18) (UN, 2019).
The Situation of Persons with Disabilities Regarding Access to ICT
1- Access to and use of the Internet
Internet websites have been ranked as one of the most important ICTs for persons with disabilities for health care, education, employment, access to government services and participation in political and public life. However, significant gaps are observed between persons with and without disabilities in the use of the Internet, with persons with disabilities reporting lower usage. Among 14 countries, around 2011, the average gap was 18 percentage points, with some countries reaching gaps as high as 30 percentage points. On average, in these countries, 19% of persons with disabilities use the Internet versus 36% of persons without disabilities. In all 14 countries, compared to persons without disabilities, the percentage of persons with disabilities using the Internet is lower. Countries with overall higher Internet usage tend to have higher gaps between persons with and without disabilities in Internet use. Households with persons with disabilities tend also to have lower Internet access. Among 26 countries, 9% of households with persons with disabilities versus 13% of households without disabilities have access to the Internet. In nine of these countries, the gap is above five percentage points.
The gap between access to the Internet at home and use of the Internet varies with age. For instance, in 11 Latin American and Caribbean countries, a higher percentage of younger persons with disabilities, especially those under the age of 40, use the Internet than have Internet access in the home, whereas for adults aged 40 and above with disabilities it is more common to have access in the home than report Internet use. These patterns suggest that for the younger generation of persons with disabilities use of the Internet is not constrained by not having connectivity at home, which may reflect the rising popularity of smart phones and other portable devices that have Internet connectivity, or the use of the Internet in public places by younger generations. For older adults with disabilities, having Internet access does not equate with Internet use. The age differences are much more pronounced for use than access. This can be due to the fact that access may be related to household income level, whereas use of the Internet and ICT more generally are marked by a digital age divide.
Several reasons may explain the lower use of the Internet among persons with disabilities, with unaffordability of the Internet, unaffordability and inaccessibility of the devices on which to access the Internet (e.g. computers or smartphones) and lower ICT skills among persons with disabilities, all possibly playing a significant role. Indeed, persons with disabilities have lower employment rates and lower incomes, and may have extra costs related to disability, making it more likely that the costs of Internet subscriptions and electronic devices will be prohibitive for them. For instance, data available for three countries in sub-Saharan Africa indicate that 15% of households without persons with disabilities but only 8% of households with persons with disabilities are able to afford Internet costs. Households with persons with disabilities are also less likely to have a computer (11% of households with versus 16% of households without persons with disabilities).
In addition, persons with disabilities are less likely to receive an education and are thus more likely to have lower levels of digital literacy. And, even with similar levels of education, they may face additional barriers to using the Internet. For example, around 2010, in 11 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, persons with disabilities were less likely to use the Internet than persons without disabilities with identical education levels. Although Internet usage increased with the level of education for both persons with and without disabilities, the gaps between the two ranged from 6 percentage points in primary education to 14 percentage points in tertiary education.
Even where digital education, ICTs and Internet connections are all available, electronic devices often remain inaccessible unless special assistive technologies are also provided. For example, persons with physical disabilities may not be able to operate the standard devices used for navigating the Internet (mouse, keyboard, screen), and may need alternate devices suited to their needs. Persons with visual, reading, cognitive, or other disabilities may encounter barriers with inaccessible digital content (e.g. webpages and documents), and may require more accessible formatting or assistive software. In addition, shops selling electronics are not always accessible for persons with disabilities. Crowdsourced reports on 6,015 electronic shops worldwide, mostly from developed countries, indicated that 43% were not accessible for persons using wheelchairs (UN, 2019).
2- Access to and Usage of Mobile Phones
Mobiles phones can have a strong impact on the independent living of persons with disabilities. However, similar to Internet ownership, households with persons with disabilities are less likely to own a mobile phone. Among 36 countries, 53% of households with persons with disabilities, compared to 60% of households without persons with disabilities, own a mobile phone. In 11 countries, the gap is larger than 10 percentage points. Gaps tend to be wider in countries with lower coverage.
Even if a mobile phone exists at home, persons with disabilities may not be able to use it. Individual ownership of mobile phones is likely to be lower for persons with disabilities. For instance, in Uganda, in 2016, persons with disabilities were less likely to own a mobile phone. Women with disabilities were the least likely to own one, only 42% as compared to 46% of women without disabilities, 52% of men with disabilities and 66% of men without disabilities. Likewise, the percentage of women with disabilities who used a mobile phone for financial transactions was only 26%, whereas 34% of women without disabilities and 48% of men without disabilities did so (UN, 2019).
3- Use of TV and Radio
In four developing countries, the use of radio and TV tends to be lower among persons with disabilities, but the gaps between persons with and without disabilities are narrower than those observed for the Internet. On average, 74% of persons with disabilities and 78% of persons without disabilities listened to the radio; 65% of persons with disabilities and 72% of persons without disabilities watched TV (UN, 2019).
4- Affordability of ICT
Persons with disabilities and their households have more difficulties affording ICTs. For instance, in three countries in sub-Saharan Africa, around 2012, on average only 37% of households with persons with disabilities could afford a TV, 61% could afford a radio and 67% a mobile phone. In all three countries and for all ICTs, the ability of households with persons with disabilities to afford ICTs was lower as compared to households without persons with disabilities. In Turkey, in 2007, only 53% of persons with disabilities could afford a computer, and 82% could afford a telephone. In 34 countries in Europe, the percentage of persons who can afford a computer is slightly higher among persons without disabilities (95%) than among persons with disabilities (91%). In these countries, the percentage of persons who can afford a telephone and a TV is about the same among persons with and without disabilities (99%) (UN, 2019).
5-Accessibility of ICTs
A growing number of mainstream, everyday ICT such as mobile devices and desktop computers increasingly offer functionalities that facilitate communication and information access for persons with disabilities. Features such as text-to-speech and voice recognition, ability to change contrast and colour schemes, touch and gesture input, and screen magnification, which in the past required specialized standalone software and hardware, are embedded within off-the-shelf ICT devices. These features enable persons with disabilities to receive information and content in the format that they can perceive and prefer. For example, a person with visual impairments can use text-to-speech functionality or software to read a website, a person with hearing impairments can use SMS or instant text messaging to communicate, and a person with mobility impairments can use voice recognition to operate and navigate their digital device.
Another key trend in recent years is the inclusion of accessibility features in web pages, which reduce the need for costlier specialized assistive technologies. For instance, some web pages use bigger fonts or particular colour combinations, which are easier for the visually impaired. Similarly, captions in audio or video content on web pages are useful for the hearing impaired. Some websites also include features so that persons with motor impairments can navigate the sites without a pointing device.
However, the large majority of websites lack features which promote accessibility and include features that are inaccessible for persons with disabilities. This includes governmental websites. Among governmental portals of the 193 United Nations Member States, the fonts and colours in the portals can be reconfigured in only 32% of countries (a feature helpful for those with visual disabilities); and website content can be read aloud (a feature helpful for those with severe visual difficulties) in the portals of a mere 7% of countries. Only 4% of governmental websites include video in sign language, which makes information and websites accessible for persons with hearing difficulties. Moreover, persons with disabilities will encounter additional barriers in many national portals: in 35% of countries, national portals included features that can only be used with a mouse, which poses difficulties for persons with hand mobility disabilities; in 48% of countries form elements were not labelled; and in as many as 63% of countries graphical elements were lacking descriptive text, which create difficulties for persons with visual disabilities. Although more recent data on all these features are not available, it is known that there has been progress on the number of governmental websites that allow for changes in font type and size, a feature which is useful for persons with visual disabilities. In 2012, 31% of countries allowed for flexible font size and type; this has since increased to 40% in 2014.
Enhanced accessibility of mobile phones and services has remained a relatively underdeveloped segment of the ICT market, yet the technology supporting accessibility is becoming more developed with a growing number of accessibility applications for smartphones. Some applications, like screen readers, do make the tool accessible; others, like GPS, can increase the accessibility of physical environments for persons with disabilities. Although many features and applications are available free of charge, affordability remains a major issue, especially for smartphones. Screen readers and text-to-speech applications cost several hundred US dollars on some mobile platforms. Another issue limiting usage of accessibility features and applications is language, as they tend not to be available in local languages. For instance, in India, there are 22 official languages yet most applications only exist in Hindi. Other countries where many languages are used, such as several African countries, encounter similar barriers (UN, 2019).
Current Practices in ICT and Disability
At the country level, laws, policies and programmes have been progressively introduced to enhance access to ICT for persons with disabilities. Most of these initiatives have focused on providing access on an equal basis with others and improving ICT accessibility. Some countries have focused on improving ICT skills through the training of persons with disabilities, sometimes focusing on youth.
On legislation promoting ICT accessibility, for instance, in Latin America and the Caribbean, ICT and persons with disabilities are mentioned under the general disability law in 13 countries and territories, and are a provision of the general telecommunication law in 6 countries. Standards and guidelines have been created for accessible websites, documents, and other digital media. One of the most universally recognized and widely used is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. These guidelines aim to provide a single shared standard for web content accessibility that meets the needs of a wide range of users including those with disabilities. Many national governments have adopted the WCAG into their basic web accessibility standards, and in some cases, the WCAG has even been written into the law. Capacity-building on web accessibility for web designers and programmers is crucial in encouraging the development of accessible websites and was provided in some countries. Disseminating information on accessibility guidelines for ICTs has been another way to raise awareness and promote accessibility.
Other guidelines and standards exist for a variety of technologies. The Guidelines for Accessible Information cover many forms of digital media, including video, audio, text and images. The International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) published accessibility standards for a variety of ICTs, including standards for hardware devices like keyboards and screens, standards for software, and standards for accessible PDF documents. The EPUB3 accessibility guidelines were also developed for eBooks. Many countries have standards for closed captioning in television and digital video broadcasting, such as China, European countries, Japan and the United States. In addition, the Telecommunications Accessibility Guidelines for Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities and the recommendation on Audiobased Network Navigation System for Persons with Vision Impairment have been developed by the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).
Countries are also adopting accessibility requirements in public procurement thus influencing accessibility in government services and promoting overall ICT accessibility through ripple effects in the broader consumer market. Policies have also been established requiring telecommunications service providers, public sector organizations (including government-owned banks), public accommodation, commercial facilities, producers and distributors of digital media to provide accessible services.
Increasingly, online content has become more accessible to persons with disabilities through online videos with captioning; and national news agencies have developed news services in easy language that is accessible to persons with intellectual disabilities. TV broadcasters have been offering television programmes with described video and closed captioning, as well as audio services for some programmes; and sign language interpretation videos have been made of national radio programming. Countries have also established funds that support the accessibility of broadcasting content. National and international funding mechanisms have been playing a significant role in promoting the development of ICTs for persons with disabilities. For instance, funds have been established to promote open-source accessible digital e-readers (textbooks) for children of primary schools in Kenya and a mobile application to help children with speech impairments to communicate in India. Funds have also been set up to disseminate examples of best practices for accessibility, to raise awareness through mainstreaming of ICT accessibility standards and to support the distribution of specialized equipment to low-income persons with disabilities in order for them to be able to access ICT (UN, 2019).
Conclusions and the Way Forward
According to UN (2019), digital technologies have been spreading, but not all persons with disabilities have been able to partake of the benefits of using ICTs. Digital gaps remain between persons with and without disabilities. In some countries, the gap between persons with and without disabilities reaches 30 percentage points for Internet use, 10 percentage points in access to the Internet in the household, and 5 percentage points in radio and TV use. This digital gap persists because many technologies are not accessible or affordable for persons with disabilities. More than 60% of national online portals are not accessible for persons with disabilities. Regarding affordability, limited data suggest that in developing countries households with persons with disabilities are half as likely to afford Internet costs, and less likely to be able to afford radio, TV and a mobile phone.
Yet, access to ICTs is recognized as crucial for the independent living and inclusion of persons with disabilities and is thus imperative for achieving all SDGs. The evidence above suggests that access to education is crucial to increase access to ICTs among persons with disabilities. Moreover, there are a number of initiatives, projects and organizations worldwide carrying out innovative practices to enhance access to ICTs for persons with disabilities, the majority of which are based in developed countries. Many developing countries lack basic ICT infrastructure for persons with disabilities. Considering the vast potential of Internet technology to improve the lives of persons with disabilities and to contribute to the realization of various SDGs for persons with disabilities, wider Internet access should be considered a priority.
Looking forward, the following recommendations offer guidance on how to strengthen the ICT ecosystem to ensure inclusion and accessibility for persons with disabilities:
(1) Raise awareness and enhance knowledge of ICT accessibility. Improving awareness of the barriers and solutions presented by ICTs for persons with disabilities will be crucial to successfully increase ICT access and use among persons with disabilities. In particular, key stakeholders such as governments and decision makers, educators, statisticians, non-governmental organizations particularly organizations of persons with disabilities, and ICT industries in the public and private sectors must be alerted to the vast potential of, and urgent need for, accessible ICTs to improve quality of life and inclusion among persons with disabilities. Methods to achieve this could include the development of academic programmes and training programmes highlighting ICT accessibility and Universal Design.
(2) Involve persons with disabilities directly. In order to properly understand the variety of needs and abilities that ICTs can address, as well as necessary accessibility requirements, persons with disabilities must be involved at every stage of ICT development. One of the most effective ways to do this is to work together with organizations of persons with disabilities, particularly those which have expertise in the field of ICT accessibility and connect them with ICT businesses for their input and insights.
(3) Promote the principles of Universal Design in the mainstream ICT industry and the public sector. Implementing Universal Design principles is more inclusive, affordable and often simpler than developing specialized software or hardware for persons with disabilities. Good ICT examples of Universal Design that have already been developed can be scaled up. The benefits of exercising Universal Design extend not only to persons with disabilities, but also to companies by opening new market opportunities for vendors.
(4) Adopt national accessibility policies and regulations. ICT accessibility policies and regulations build a foundation for implementing ICT accessibility in different areas and can promote the accessibility of virtual environments. Setting national standards and regulations facilitates the implementation of ICT accessibility because the actors involved in the production of ICTs will know what is expected.
(5) Create dedicated focal points in relevant ministries/departments dealing with ICT accessibility to coordinate and encourage ICT accessibility in line with CRPD provisions, including through relevant policies and incentives to regulate all actors in the ICT industry and market and in public procurement. A dedicated focal point can also oversee the development of policies and directives and, in collaboration with other national bodies, be responsible for monitoring national progress towards ICT accessibility, organizing public campaigns, and coordinating data collection activities.
(6) Provide affordable Internet access for persons with disabilities. Introduce programmes, policies or regulations that facilitate free or reduced-rate Internet access for persons with disabilities, particularly those in lower income brackets. This could be in the form of either a monetary social benefit for persons with disabilities, or non-monetary benefits such as free or subsidized mobile devices and Internet subscriptions. Mobile Internet access, in particular, should be prioritized, given that mobile network coverage is globally higher than broadband penetration, and is expected to increase further, especially in developing countries. Alternatively, community resource centres could be established, where persons with disabilities can have facilitated access to the Internet. Affordable Internet access is a crucial element of digital inclusion, as it can provide job opportunities, access to information and education materials, access to services and social participation.
(7) Provide funding mechanisms to support the development of open-source software: Open-source software offers many advantages. It can be acquired free of cost, and can be adjusted according to different user needs, languages, and cultural contexts. This will be particularly important in areas where financial resources are lower and commercially available software may not be affordable for persons with disabilities. Open-source software is also an ideal way to address directly the needs of users with disabilities, because it gives programmers with disabilities a chance to directly fix inaccessible software themselves.
(8) Involve all relevant stakeholders and increase funding to support Universal Design and low-cost ICTs for persons with disabilities: Many of the recommendations presented here involve multiple stakeholders. Governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations all have potential roles to play. Overall, both involvement and funding in the area of ICT accessibility should be increased. The social responsibility departments of large corporations could also be an important part of this change by dedicating more resources to the issue of digital inclusion for persons with disabilities. Funding should be provided to support Universal Design, open-source software, and low-cost assistive ICTs worldwide, as many developing countries lack the financial resources to use specialized commercial solutions. International cooperation and capacity-building in ICT accessibility should be promoted.
(9) Develop and publish comparable data on access to and use of ICTs disaggregated by disability as well as on accessibility of ICTs: With the current lack of comparable statistics on access and use of ICT by disability status, as well as on accessibility of ICTs, it will be impossible to know to what extent target 9.c is being met. There is an urgent need for reliable and comparable data and analysis in order to ensure accountability among Member States and other relevant actors. A systematic collection of data, a clear methodology for comparison, regular data evaluation, and a publicly available platform to showcase to interested parties are strongly recommended for a successful analysis of the state of the 2030 Agenda in
terms of ICT access, use and accessibility.
References
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