Global Trends in
Accessibility Public Policy
James Thurston
Vice President for Global Strategy & Development
G3ict – the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs
@jamesthu
@g3ict
G3ict’s Global Purpose
• History: Formed in December 2006 at time of adoption of
the CRPD by the United Nations General Assembly
• Mission: To promote the accessibility of Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) as per CRPD
requirements
• Approach: Partner with UN agencies, Disabled Persons
Organizations (DPOs), National Governments, Industry, and
Standards Development Organizations. Leverage global
experts.
Global Impact by Supporting
Advocates & Policy Makers (1)
• Model policies for States Parties with UNESCO and ITU
– Inclusive ICTs for Education (With UNESCO)- March 2014
– Legal framework, TV, Mobile, Web, Public Procurement, Public Access
Points (With ITU) – November 2014
• Direct Advising to & Partnering with Governments
– E.g. Mexico, Turkey, United States, Australia, European Union, South Africa,
Qatar, Russia, Egypt, Colombia, etc.
• Benchmarking
– 76 countries participating in G3ict CRPD ICT Accessibility Progress Report
representing more than 80% of the population of ratifying countries
• Technical reports & good practices
– E.g.TV, Mobile, USF, IoT, AT&T accessibility, political participation
Global Impact by Supporting
Advocates & Policy Makers (2)
• New Accessibility Worldview global policy tracking service
• Promoting innovation: M-Enabling Summit
– 500 participants in 2015 in the U.S. + global sessions (Sydney, Milan,
Moscow)
• Awareness Raising and on-line resources
– Contributions to more than 125 international events
– 60,000 annual unique visitors to G3ict web site
– 23,000 downloads & 12,000 annual unique visitors to the G3ict-ITU Policy
Toolkit
• Capacity building programs
– Seminars for Disabled Persons Organizations leaders
– Deliver UNPRPD funded programs with UNICEF and UNESCO
Policy Matters: Driving Global Digital
Inclusion & Human Rights
UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CPRD)
• Opened for signature on March 30, 2007
• Entered into force on May 3, 2008
• As of October 15, 2015
– CRPD Treaty
• 160 Signatories
• 159 Ratifications
– Optional Protocol
• 92 Signatories
• 88 Ratifications
CRPD & ICT Accessibility
• Preamble – defines accessibility as an enabler for exercising rights
• Article 3 (f) – identifies accessibility as one of its 8 general principles
– E.g. non-discrimination, equal opportunity, full participation in society, etc.
• Article 9 - includes ICT in its definition of Accessibility & elevates ICT
Accessibility obligations on par with those for the built environment and
transportation
• Access/Accessible/Accessibility – 17 uses throughout the CRPD
• CRPD Requires States Parties to:
– Adopt accessibility standards
– Ensure that public and private sector entities implement ICT accessibility for
services to the public
– Promote the usage of new technologies and the Internet by Persons with
Disabilities
• Other CRPD articles reinforce the obligation of ICT accessibility for
freedom of expression, work, education, assistive technologies, and
reasonable accommodation
Accessibility Requirements
Throughout the CRPD
Application Areas
CRPD Article
Accessibility
Dispositions with
Implications for ICTs
Non- discrimination
E-Government
5
9.2.a
Y
Media and Internet
9.1, 9,2.g
Y
30.1.b
Y
9.2.b
Y
Television
Private Sector
Services
Liberty and Security
Living Independently
Education
Employment
Political Rights
Emergency Services
Culture and Leisure
Personal Mobility
Rehabilitation
14
19
24
27
21, 29
9.1.b, 11
30.5.c
20
2
Reasonable
Accommodation
Promoting Assistive
Technologies
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Global Policy Insights & Trends
via G3ict
CRPD
Progress
Report Survey
Accessibility
Worldview
Service
Global
Development
Survey
Global
Network of
>1100 Experts
In Country
Experience
G3ict’s CRPD Progress Report
• Systematic review of global progress on CRPD
implementation – ICT components
• 2013 Survey: 76 countries
– 74 CRPD ratifying countries in-country advocates (+ US and Cook Islands)
– Covers 72% of world population; 81% of population of ratifying countries
• Two questionnaires per country
– Legal experts
– Accessibility experts
– Complemented by local peer reviews
• 57 data points across 3 “Legs”
– Country commitments: Country legal, regulatory and programmatic
implementations (35)
– Country capacity to implement (12)
– Country actual results for PWDs (10)
G3ict’s CRPD Progress Report:
Across All Regions
North America
1%
Europe
26%
Africa
30%
Oceania
5%
Asia
18%
Other
2%
LATAM
18%
G3ict’s CRPD Progress Report:
Across All Levels of Development
Low Income
21%
High Income
26%
Lower-Middle Income
23%
Upper-Middle Income
30%
CRPD Alignment, Compliance, and
Capacity to Implement
Avg CRPD Alignment
How Accessible?
42%
Avg degree of ACC across ICT products and services
Adopting CRPD Policies?
Avg CRPD ICT Compliance
66%
Avg degree of compliance in country legal framework
Avg Capacity to Implement
Future Progress? 29%
Avg degree of capacity to implement CRPD
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
CRPD Alignment, Compliance, &
Capacity to Implement: By Region
120%
Global
Africa
Asia
Europe
LATAM
96%
100%
N. America
Oceania
90%
80%
62%
61%
60%
57%
56%
48%
42%
40%
66%
42%
38%
35%
31%
56%
29%
27%
32%
38%
27%
23%
30%
20%
0%
Global
Africa
Asia
Europe
LATAM
N. America
Oceania
AVG. CRPD Alignment
AVG CRPD ICT Compliance
AVG Capacity to Implement
42%
31%
38%
61%
48%
96%
62%
66%
27%
35%
56%
42%
90%
57%
29%
23%
32%
38%
27%
56%
30%
CRPD Alignment: Avg Level
of Existing Accessibility
Specific ICT Products & Services
50%
Accessible Features for Computers
47%
Accessible Telecom & Media
37%
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
CRPD Alignment: How Accessible is
the World Today?
Does Your Country Have…
Yes
Closed Captioning or Sign Language Interpretation for Broadcast TV
71%
Sign Language for News, Emergency Comms, Important Announcements
62%
Libraries for the Blind or Public Libraries Providing e-Book Services
59%
AT Available to Students with Disabilities at Major Universities
52%
Government Websites that are Accessible
45%
Wireless Telephone Handsets with Accessibility Features Available
45%
Accessible Public Electronic Kiosks or ATMs Deployed in Country
39%
Programs to Promote Use of Telephony by Persons with Disabilities
26%
Closed Captioning or Sign Language Interpretation for Pre-recorded TV
24%
Closed Captioning or Sign Language Interpretation for Live TV Programs
20%
Accessible Web Among Top 10 Commercial and Media Web Sites
19%
Video or Audio Description by Broadcast TV
17%
Avg Degree of CRPD Compliance in
Laws, Regulations, and Policies
Promote Acc ICT & AT
26%
Covering Target Groups
62%
Covering ICT Prod & Svc
52%
Covering ICT applications
77%
Genr'l legal & reg framework
91%
0%
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
No Policy
Minimum
Partial
Substantial
Full
CRPD Compliance: Degrees of
Accessibility Policy Implementation
Copyrights Exceptions
84%
7%
6%
3%
0%
ATM or Kiosks
68%
19%
10%
0%
3%
Fixed line Telephony
62%
14%
15%
7%
1%
Wireless Telephony
61%
18%
13%
4%
4%
Web Sites
51%
30%
12%
7%
0%
Television
28%
50%
16%
6%
0%
Policies Covering Specific ICT
Products & Services
No Policy
Minimum
Partial
Substantial
Full
CRPD Compliance: Degrees of
Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Teleworking
76%
8%
10%
4%
1%
Emergency Response Services
60%
16%
11%
10%
3%
Voting Systems
59%
12%
19%
8%
1%
Primary & Secondary Education
41%
23%
25%
11%
0%
Higher Education
49%
22%
22%
7%
0%
Workplace
44%
26%
19%
11%
0%
AT & Reasonable Accommodation
Policies in Specific Application
Areas
ICT Public Procurement Policies
Key to Promoting Digital Inclusion
• Only 33% of countries explicitly focus on accessible ICTs in
their public procurement policies and processes.
• Much of the current & expected future policy activity
related to public procurement
• G3ict Model Public Procurement Policy with ITU
• New G3ict Initiative to Promote Public procurement policies
–
–
–
–
Public Procurement Polices work
We have the opportunity to enact effective policies beyond the US & EU
The tools necessary exist today - except for an int’l ICT accessibility standard
Industry, government, and civil society can drive the expeditious creation of
an int’l standard by leveraging existing standards – EN 301 549
– Civil society has a key role in pushing for inclusive ICT procurement policies
• Need a roadmap for government, civil society, and industry
collaboration to drive global public procurement policies
AVG Degree of Capacity to Support
CRPD Implementation
Government Focus
41%
Support for NGOs & DPOs
17%
Capacity Building
32%
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
CRPD Capacity: Policies & Programs to
Support Implementation
Does Your Country Have…
Yes
A Government Body Dedicated to Persons with Disabilities
79%
Any Government Fund Allocated for Digital Accessibility
33%
A Systematic Review of Existing Accessibility Legislation & Policy
20%
Data Available to Public about Digital Access by Persons with Disabilities
9%
Financial Support for DPOs and NGOS working on Digital Accessibility
34%
Forum for Cooperation between NGOs working on Digital Accessibility
24%
Mechanism to Involve DPOs in the Full Legislative & Policy Process
13%
Awards & Recognition for Persons with Disabilities for Accessibility Work
12%
Participation in Accessibility Work at International Standards Bodies
42%
Civil Society Accessibility Conferences in the Past Two Years
37%
Any Technical Assistance Centers
28%
Mandatory Accessibility Training Programs in Higher Education
11%
What Factors Drive CRPD Success?*
• A government body specifically dedicated to Persons
with Disabilities
• A systematic mechanism to involve the DPOs (persons
with disabilities) to the drafting, designing,
implementation and evaluation of laws and policies
• Financial support for DPOs and NGOs
• A forum for active cooperation between DPOs & NGOs
• Awareness raising and training programs about the
CRPD
• Country participation in international standards
development work related to Digital Accessibility
* Factors identified through regression analysis for significance (2012)
Accessibility Worldview:
Tracking Global Policy Hot Spots
• Continuous Policy Sweeps leading to
validated and prioritized bi-weekly
reports of global ICT accessibility policy
and standards activities.
• Customizable reports to align policy
intelligence with business priorities.
Multiple key technology areas (e.g.
web, cloud, mobile, etc.) application
domains (e.g. Education, financial
services, procurement, etc.), and top
global markets that matter most to
business.
• Annual Global Trends Report
summarizing proprietary G3ict survey
findings on ICT accessibility status in 87
countries.
• Up to 12 hours of analyst assistance.
More than
1 Million
Daily News
Items
Global
Network of
More than
1000
Experts
Active in
Every
Global
Region
Curated & Prioritized Summary
of Active & Impending Global
Accessibility Policy Activity
Accessibility Worldview
Top 20 Markets & Beyond
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
European Union
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Poland
Republic of Korea
Russia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
The Netherlands
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
Argentina
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Cambodia
Cameroon
Chile
Croatia
Denmark
Ghana
India
Indonesia
Iran
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Lebanon
Malaysia
Malta
Namibia
Nepal
New Zealand
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Sri Lanka
Thailand
United Arab
Emirates
And more…
Accessibility Worldview
Global Policy Hot Spots
European Union
Multilateral
April-Sept, 2015
Accessibility Worldview
Finding & Forecasting Policy Making
40
40
Priority One:
Active Policy Making
25
30
20
25
15
20
10
Priority Two:
Expected Policy Making
35
15
5
10
6
0
5
3
3
4
6
6
3
1
0
April to September, 2015
Accessibility Worldview:
Priority One Examples - Active
• Brazil (09/15): Human Rights Commission acting on 9 legislative
items: e.g. ATMs, public internet portals, Financial Services, audio
manuals for ICT products.
• France (09/15): “Digital Republic” online consultation includes a
section on digital inclusion and proposal for digital agency with
accessibility obligations. French Telecom Federation opposes parts.
• Scotland (09/15): New consultation (until 4 January 2016) to deliver
on CRPD commitments, e.g. inclusive communication, employment,
and education. Parallel consultation by local governments.
• South Africa (09/15): Department of Trade and Industry
consultation on the Copyright Amendment Bill, includes focus on
increasing accessibility of education and learning materials.
• India (08/15): Accessible India national campaign includes making
3,000 public sector websites accessible by the end of 2016.
• Latin America (08/15): 18 countries approve “Digital Agenda for
Latin America”, including focus on inclusion of vulnerable groups.
Accessibility Worldview:
Priority Two Examples - Expected
• Canada (09/15): Canada's largest DPOs call for a Canadians with
Disabilities Act.
• EU (09/15): Recent CRPD review expresses concerns over lack of a
cross-cutting, comprehensive disability approach.
• Australia (09/15): Youth Commissioner in state of Tasmania calls for
improvements to and better funding for inclusive education.
• Canada (09/15): DPOs recognize elections accessibility
improvements since push began 1.5y ago.
• Germany (09/15): New Bertelsmann Foundation study shows
education for children and young people with disabilities is not
consistently improving.
• India (09/15): Nearly 100 cities competing for “Smart Cities” funds.
Program calls for policy changes to promote the use of
smart/sustainable technologies.
Accessibility Worldview:
Mexico April to September 2015
October
G3ict met with
July
them and asked • Priority 1 ratify •
• Priority 1
to submit
G3ict has
Marrakech
comments
learned directly
treaty
from
• Priority 2 DPO
government
calls for policies
June
contacts that
to support
there will be a
access to info • Priority 1 Senate
proposal for
new web
• Priority 2
•
reforms
to
make
accessibility
Increasing
written
requirement
distance
materials more
education
accessible
provides
August
• Priority 3 UAM
opportunity
for
• Priority 1 IFT
prototypes
accessibility
Consultation on
accessible gov’t
new telcom
web portal
accessibility
requirements.
May
Priority 1 Calls
for more
accessibility in
EDU ministry
tablet
procurement
program
Priority 1 NEI
taking steps to
improve voting
accessibility
Accessibility Worldview:
Priority One - Active Policy Making
e.g. youth, financial
services, EMS, political
All other topics
processes, etc.
24%
Web
13%
Broad Rights
10%
eGov 4%
Mobile
10%
AT 4%
Education 4%
Employment
6%
Application
Area 14%
TV
7%
Advanced
Communications
9%
IP
9%
Tech
Specific 42%
Accessibility Worldview:
Priority Two - Expected Policy Making
Web
17%
Other topics
23%
*Education 15%
AT 3%
*Commerce 4%
*Aging 4%
Employment
5%
*Political
Processes
6%
Application
Area 39%
Mobile
9%
*Financial
Services
6%
Broad Rights
8%
Tech
Specific 29%
Accessibility Worldview:
Trends in the Global Activity
• DPOs are increasingly engaged in policy making
– In 9% of our Accessibility Worldview global policy items
• More policy making at the subnational level (e.g.
States, cities, etc.)
– 6% of our Accessibility Worldview global policy items
• Shift from regulating devices & technologies to
promoting accessible technology use in key application
areas and sectors
– Procurement is key in those areas
• Policy activity is no longer just US and EU
– LATAM surging & Africa poised to grow
Moving Forward:
Promoting Accessibility Policies
• Update legal framework to include ICTs in legal definition of
accessibility
– 50% of countries define accessibility in law to include ICT &
electronic media
• Promote disability-inclusive policies and programs identified
as priority areas by key stakeholders
– Top areas of greatest policy impact are web, mobile, & TV
– G3ict-ITU Model policies for each area
• Move beyond technology and product specific policies to
initiatives that expand deployment & use of accessible
technology
• Address gaps in capacity through multi-stakeholder programs
• Leverage public sector purchasing power to drive accessibility
innovation & competition
– international standards are key
–
Moving Forward:
4 Big Accessibility Policy Challenges
1. Disability Data Divide
– Personal tech generating more data
– Data informing policy
– But not everyone using tech or creating data
2. Global Development Agenda
– 80% of 1 Billion in Global South
– MDGs silent & SDGs marginally better
3. Role of DPOs
– CRPD core principle
– Proven success criterion
4. Business Case for Accessibility
Thank You!
James Thurston
www.g3ict.org
jthurston@g3ict.org
@jamesthu