ITU Workshop on Accessibility/Atelier UIT sur l’accessibilité
Bamako, Mali 13 – 15 October 2009
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Workshop Report
(English version)
Andrea Saks, Workshop Chair
Christine Mugimba, Rapporteur
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
International
Telecommunication
Union
Opening ceremony 1/2
Video Opening welcome speech by International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) Secretary General Dr. Hamadoun
Touré
In the presence of
H.E. Minister of Communications and New Technologies,
Government of Mali, Madame Diarra Mariam Flatie Diallo,
H.E. Minister of Social Development, Solidarity and Aged, Mr.
Sékou Diakité, Government of Mali
Dr. Choguel Kokalla Maiga, Director of Committee of
Regulation of Telecommunications (CRT), Government of Mali
ITU-T Director, Mr. Malcolm Johnson,
Andrea Saks, Convener, ITU-T Joint Coordination Activity on
Accessibility and Human Factors, JCA-HF,
Abdoulaye Dembele, focal point between ITU-D, ITU-T and
JCA-HF for persons with disabilities.
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Opening ceremony 2/2
Introductions made by Mr. Oumar Sangho, Journalist in Mali
The issues highlighted at the opening ceremony included:Commitment of Mali government to ICTs accessibility issues
Event part of the 15th edition of celebrations of the month of
solidarity for elderly and persons with disabilities in Mali;
Accessibility means autonomy and independence for Persons
with disabilities including women and children
ITU’s commitment and initiative in Bridging the digital divide
in developing countries
ICTs help equalise skills
Importance of the principles of universal design in
standardization work
Importance of Adoption of UN convention on rights of Persons
with disabilities by UN assembly;
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 1:
Introduction to Accessibility:
role of ITU and international organizations
ITU-T accessibility activities- Importance of International standards with
accessibility features
Existing standards such as V.18, Accessibility check lists, IPTV with
accessibility features,
New standards coming; H.325 and relay services for the deaf
World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08)
Resolution 70
standards are voluntary, good business to include all accessibility
features at the early stage of design and development: universal
design
Importance of standards by enabling interoperability; example of the
text phones for deaf people that were not compatible country to
country
Disability communications should be regarded in the same way as
rural communications with industry using revenue populations to
subside
Technology and innovation often ahead of regulation
New technology can create barriers; different techniques used in
different countries without standards and without universal design
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 1:
ITU accessibility activities
ITU-D Special initiative for persons with disabilities; Role is
knowledge dissemination in partnership with member states
Active participation of member states critical; feedback needed on
tools developed
Activities include:
ICT pilot projects for persons with disabilities in Zambia,
Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, Malawi
New study areas to be tabled at next World
Telecommunications Development Conference (WTDC)
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 1:
ITU accessibility activities
Political will, ITU decisions or interventions and regulatory
measures essential in addressing accessible ICTs
Important for persons with disabilities to be actors and not
spectators
Fellowships available for participation
Important to involve universities and R&D institutions
Special office created within TSB to implement WTSA-08
Resolution 70
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Issues arising from session 1
Accessibility for persons with hearing impairments
Differences in sign language across countries and regions
Real time text is important in addressing accessibility of ICTs
for persons with disabilities, the elderly and in emergency
communications
Relay services such as video text and voice should be available
for deaf people or people who cannot speak
Persons with disabilities concerns and needs
Problem is not disability but access to technology
persons with disabilities want to use ICTs like other people
Need for training of persons with disabilities to be able to use
these technologies with the tools that they need
Partnership between telecom companies and member states
through Ministries is important
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Session 2:
UN convention of Rights of persons with
disabilities and best practices for ICTs
Presentations by experts;
Importance of UN convention and articles related to accessible
ICTs; Legally binding
Digital accessibility new basic right
Rights related to ICT accessibility now equivalent to rights to
access buildings and transport
Importance of national laws and focal point for implementation
of UN convention accessibility ICTs provisions
G3ict tool kit as addressing knowledge and capability building
for policy makers
Advisory Work of IGF and DCAD and opportunity for participation
by ICT experts, persons with disabilities experts and expert
organizations
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Session 2:
technology and disability
Research in Latin America on technology and disability by
University of Washington, Seattle WA
under reporting during census
Discrimination and stigmatism
Technology is a small piece of the problem. Other problems
are social, policy and non technology options such as
accessible spaces, the availability of sign language and
captioning need to be addressed
In some instances assistive devices are not used
Social networks, advocacy groups are important and grass root
approach is valuable
persons with disabilities should be involved at design stage
instead of testing stage only
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Issues arising out of session 2
Participation
Interest by participants to contribute to work of IGF and DCAD; ITU experts
may be contacted with details
Research and statistics
Similar research to that done in Latin America should be carried out but
ensuring local capacity building
Census and survey questions are critical in getting right statistics on
persons with disabilities
Advocacy and lobby
Need for find approaches to that suit local situation to advocate for rights of
persons with disabilities including radical approaches; well organized and
lobby activists important
Needs of persons with motor disabilities
Education and capacity building needed for persons with motor disabilities
to be able to utilize existing technologies and to participate in various
initiatives
User friendly technology for persons with motor disabilities; Friendly
technologies (open source software applications in addition to international
standards) to persons with disabilities due to leprosy exist, head movement
tech. options etc
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Session 3:
Assistive Technologies for persons with
disabilities 1/2
Case studies of Assistive Technologies deployed and used by
persons with disabilities by experts
Demo by Qualilife
AT developed to enable person with severe motor
disabilities to communicate using standard technologies;
head movement being used to control computer; voice and
video calls made over the internet
Took 5 years to develop software; No need to reinvent the
wheel. This can be avoided by ensuring accessibility
features are included at beginning of product cycle
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 3:
Assistive Technologies for persons with
disabilities 2/2
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technologies
initiatives
Concept; device and activity accessibility
Focus on difficulty instead of disability; recording device
can cover all disabilities using mainstream technologies;
mobile phones etc
Text instructions better than oral instructions for autistic
boy
Use of mobile phones as a tool in special education
Text book on how mobile phones can be used for persons
with disabilities
Existing technologies such as Windows OS (supports text
to speech engine) already have accessibility features
Need for training and information on existing technologies
and accessibility features can be explored
Development of minority language screen readers project
for Nepal
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Issues arising out of session 3
Existing technologies and Assistive technologies
Assistive technologies have been developed to help persons
with disabilities access ICTs, work along side existing
technologies
Important to have accessibility features at early stage of
production of technology
Existing technologies can be used as AT; as some of the
technologies already have accessibility features
Training and information on available technologies and
accessibility features important
Language diversity in accessible ICTs needs to be addressed
Involvement of persons with disabilities in technology
development
Important to work with persons with disabilities in designing
assistive technologies
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Session 4:
Social and economic issues
Factual Information on needs of mentally challenged persons
limited;
mentally challenged persons usually not included in
discussions on persons with disabilities
Brain development different and need patience
Best people to train are mothers because they are inherently
looking for solutions for their children
Requirements of children with autism; facts, reduce sensory
load, reduce content to essential information
Problem is not hardware but the software-SKID software with
different modules developed for use by children with autism
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Session 4:
social and economic issues
Concept of accessibility as a pyramid
AT or user software at the top; screen readers
Applications in the middle; email, word processors
Fundamental standards-file, communications and interface
protocols
Proprietary exclusion: Case study of email application being
accessible and not instant messaging
Strengths and weaknesses of govt, private companies and civil
society in addressing accessibility of ICTs
Low cost internet access for persons with disabilities critical
because of need for scalability, continuity of availability of
technology or solution, affordability issues
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Issues arising from session 4
Training needed for persons handling children mentally
challenged; with autism, mothers best to train
Women with persons with disabilities face greater challenges
related to accessing ICTs; 99% of women with persons with
disabilities in developing countries. Women are often excluded
from education and this compounds the problem
Important to have open protocols, international standards and
open source within the concept of accessibility pyramid;
Solutions that are large scale, can be replicated and adapted to
local situations is critical
Balance between proprietary standards and open standards
There is no need to regulate every facet of accessibility features
focus should be on file, compatible accessible communications
and international standards with implemented accessibility
features
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 5:
Issues regarding e-health,
e-education and employment 1/2
Case studies of e-health technological solutions deployed by
Qualilife in hospitals and rural communities; voice recognition,
touch screens etc. The impact is improved health care and
satisfaction by patient
Challenge of appreciation and use of ICTs by health experts
Capacity building for medical experts needed
Localization of solutions important
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 5:
Issues regarding e-health,
e-education and employment 2/2
Education and employment challenge for persons with disabilities;
no single factor can be applied because includes a series of many
issues
Better to equip persons with disabilities to develop their own
technologies; project on teaching blind programming
Multi-sectorial approach/strategy needed;
Labor laws and tax incentives
Community based health care
Shareable training materials
Opportunities for persons with disabilities to work through
internships
Technological options that can be controlled and are free and
open source are desirable
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 6:
Sharing best practices for
e-accessibility and ICTs
Case study from Burkina Faso and Mali
Burkina Faso
Training centre (AVH and ITU) in adapted computer
science to promote professionalism for the blind;
equipment like screen readers, scanners and Braille
printers
13 trained, 10 completed so far
Centre used by neighboring countries
Participation in ICT exhibition by blind persons to
demonstrate professionalism
Mali; training centre funded by UNESCO Norway, role of
government, association of persons with disabilities and M&E
important
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 6:
sharing best practices for
e-accessibility and ICTs
Kyrgyzstan; Goal to develop Human Capacity and potential of
each country;
Digital TV project for children with various needs (education,
remote areas, discrimination and disabilities, women being
kept at home, children working during the day.)-user
interfaces; keyboard, setup box, TV set
ITU in collaboration with Ministry of ICT and DIMTV;
application of latest technology
Set up box software compatible with LINUX or open source
Accessibility tool kit for policy makers
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 6:
issues arising
Training centre common practice within region
Need to train staff in use and maintenance of computer
equipment
Need for continued research in applicable technologies
Need for policy advocacy on issues of standardisation of products
and software
Need to assess and review impact of such workshops especially
regarding knowledge and information dissemination
Projects funded by ITU or UN agencies
Issues of affordability and scalability for advanced technology
projects such as digital TV
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 7:
Experiences and challenges in promoting
accessible ICTs 1/2
Panel discussion; Uganda, Mali, Zambia, Gambia, Senegal,
Burkina Faso, DRC Congo
Issues arising
Some countries yet to ratify UN convention on rights of
persons with disabilities
Projects on ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities
implemented with support of ITU-D as pilot projects;
Explore use of Universal access funds for sustainability, ITU
funding limited
Political will important in advancing the needs of persons with
disabilities related to persons with disabilities
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 7:
Experiences and challenges in promoting
accessible ICTs 2/2
Key stakeholders involved; education, social development and
ICT and regulators, associations for persons with disabilities
Role of telecommunications companies needs to be
emphasized
persons with disabilities should be mainstreamed and not
necessarily having special initiatives in seclusion
Workshop good platform for knowledge sharing and learning
Avenues available for participation in work of ITU and DCAD
and IGF
Exploring increased funding from ITU council for Accessibility
projects for developing countries
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 8:
Issuing regarding Training session
on ITU toolkit for policy makers 1/5
Raku Raku story; DoCoMo project
Market need for elderly and persons with disabilities increase
in penetration over 5 year period
Statistics from census /surveys
Disparity in results due to nature of questions asked during
survey,
Ask questions on what people can do, capacity to participate in
activities and not the disease or disability;
South Africa and Tanzania applied activity based methods in
collecting stats as recommended by UN.
Important to have reliable statistics;
Apply UN recommendations for best methods of collecting
statistics but applied to your local situation
ITU Workshop on Accessibility
Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 8:
Issuing regarding Training session
on ITU toolkit for policy makers 2/5
Business case study of window users in USA who use accessibility
features
Good for marketing and competitiveness
Basic need to understand needs of population including need
of persons with disabilities and therefore should be addressed
Role of disabled people in policy making
Participation of disabled people basic principle of convention
and critical
Important to fund associations of persons with disabilities in
order to effectively participate
Businesses should not view support for persons with
disabilities as charity but as basic need and right
Examples of initiatives; online book project by persons with
disabilities for persons with disabilities; book share.org, TifloLibros, AT&T has special council of persons with disabilities
contributing to product development within the company
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 8:
Issuing regarding Training session
on ITU toolkit for policy makers 3/5
Setting priorities;
many government institutions concerned due to the diversity
of issues concerned; ICT, socio economic issues, human rights
etc
Ownership of programs; at minimum have good coordination at
ministerial level; that is inter ministerial coordination
Standards important to effectively used limited resources
Regulatory authorities because of understanding of
standardization good position to play a big role in setting
priorities
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Session 8:
Issuing regarding Training session
on ITU toolkit for policy makers 4/5
Policy implementation tools; awareness, voluntary charters,
legislation and regulation, public procurement;
Legislative/regulation approach necessary sometimes for
businesses to implement accessibility features
Public procurement –
Government should not spend tax payers' money on
projects, products and services that are not accessible;
Imposing procurement of accessible products increases
level of production of accessible products and skills of eaccessibility
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 8:
Issuing regarding Training session
on ITU toolkit for policy makers 5/5
Funding;
inclusion of accessibility features can be at no cost but in some instances
additional costs are incurred
The avenues of funding; Government budgets, Universal Access and Disability
funds, Civil society
Operators can agree on specific requirements ; no technical obstacle for using mobile
devices with accessible features
Persons with disabilities need to be involved in determining accessibility criteria.
Consultative advisory committees can be instituted to address needs of persons with
disabilities
There are a number of criteria and case studies of implementation of accessibility
features for wireless services, TV broadcasting , e-government websites, community
centres that can be adapted for local situations
Different regulators for broadcasting and telecommunications sectors, presents
challenge in implementing cross cutting ICT accessibility features; Regulators should
share knowledge of criteria of digital accessibility applicable to their situations at
regional level
Policies country per country and level of implementation of UN convention to be
included on the tool Kit
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Session 8: Conclusions 1/2
Good statistics important to develop good policies
Participation of persons with disabilities in all processes for policy
making important; nothing about us without us
Proper funding for organizations for persons with disabilities
important
Each country to set priorities related to making ICTs accessible in
line with basic criteria for implementation of accessible ICTs
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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Session 8: Conclusions 2/2
Policies should be inclusive for successful implementation
Tools to be used in implementing accessible ICTs; easiest tool
change of behavior
Programs to implement should be agreed by all stakeholders
Collaboration and partnerships key in addressing accessible ICTs
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Bamako, Mali, 13 – 15 October 2009
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Telecommunication
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