The UN Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities: How
Does it Impact the Internet?
Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December 2008
Including Accessibility and Human Factors in the
Universalization of the Internet - How to reach persons with
disabilities, the 10% of the next billion
Cynthia D. Waddell, Juris Doctor
Overview- UNCRPD: How Does it
Impact the Internet?
 UNCRPD Background
 Equal Access to the Internet
 Accessible Web Design and
Implementation
 Best Practices in Government and
Procurement
 Resources Available
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UNCRPD- Background
 UN Convention on Rights of Persons with

Disabilities Adopted by General Assembly
13 December 2006
Addresses Rights of 650 Million Persons
with Disabilities and Impacts 2 Billion
Persons including Family Members of
Persons with Disabilities
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UNCRPD- Background
 Number of Signatories on Opening Day


30 March 2007 were Highest in History
Treaty Entered into Legal Force
3
May 2008
136 Signatories to Convention; 79 to the
Optional Protocol as of November 2008
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Equal Access to the Internet
States Parties Shall Ensure Internet
Access for Persons with Disabilities, on
an Equal Basis with Others, by
Promoting Accessibility
[Article 9(2)(g)]
Promoting Accessible ICT or Web to
minimize cost at early stage in
Design, Development, Production and
Distribution [Article 9(2)(h)]
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Accessible Web Design
States Parties under the General Obligations
of Treaty [Article 4] Are Required To:
 Promote Universal Design in
Development of Standards & Guidelines
 Promote Assistive Technologies in
Research, Development, Availability and
Affordability
 Provide Accessible Information about
New Technologies and Support Services
 Promote Training on the Convention
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Accessible Web Implementation
 Statistical & Data Collection
Collect Statistical & Research Data to Assess
Convention Implementation and to Identify
Barriers; Data Itself to be Accessible
[Article 31]
 International Cooperation
Facilitate Research & Access to Scientific &
Technical Knowledge; Provide Technical &
Economic Assistance; Technology Transfer
[Article 32]
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Best Practices for Government
 Mainstreaming Disability
Issues for sustainable
development
 Supporting Cross-Disability
Stakeholder Engagement
 Accessible Web Sites &
Documents
 Real Time Captioning
 Accessible Online
Conferencing
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Best Practices in Procurement
 Canada- Accessible Procurement
Toolkit at www.apt.gc.ca
 Ireland-Accessible IT Procurement
Toolkit at accessit.nda.ie
 USA- Buy Accessible Wizard at
www.buyaccessible.gov
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Resources
Web Accessibility: Web
Standards and Regulatory
Compliance
By Jim Thatcher, Cynthia Waddell et al
Published by Apress 2006
ISBN: 1-59059-638-2
Published in Japanese 2007
ISBN: 978-4-8399-2220-7
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Resources
 Handbook for
Parliamentarians on the
Convention
 Available Free Online at
www.un.org/disabilities
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Resources
 Involving People with
Disabilities in the
Standardisation Process
by Dr. John Gill OBE
Chief Scientist, Royal National
Institute of Blind People
 Available Free Online at
www.tiresias.org/publications/
disabilities_standardisation/
index.htm
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Contact Information
Cynthia WADDELL
Executive Director
Law, Policy and Technology Subject
Matter Expert
International Center for Disability
Resources on the Internet (ICDRI)
E-mail: cynthia.waddell@icdri.org
Web: www.icdri.org
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