Hi all!!

Thought ya might wanna check this out.

Hope you're all having a greaaaat summer!!-Gary


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 08:27:45 -0400
From: William McQueen <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Equal Access to Software & Information <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 2006 International Day of Disabled Persons will be E-Accessibility

Information from Disabled People International
http://v1.dpi.org/lang-en/index

This week, the United Nations announced the theme for the 2006
celebration of International Day of Disabled Persons.  This year´s
December 3rd celebrations will focus on "E-Accessibility" - improving
access to new information technology for persons with disabilities.

While access to information and communication technology has created
opportunities for everyone, many persons with disabilities are unable to
take full advantage of the Internet, thanks to inaccessible designs, formats,
and training venues.

Since we live in a world that increasingly relies on access to information
technology, this is an important issue for the international community of
people with disabilities, and we are excited to see it highlighted for this
year´s IDDP.  For more information on this development, you can read the
Media Advisory in this week´s additions to the DPI website (available in
English only),
or visit the UN Enable website at
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disiddp.htm, or contact the UN at
[log in to unmask] (see text below)

On a related note, the theme for the next issue of our quarterly publication,
Disability International, is technology and people with disabilities.  It will be
released in mid-August.  Please contact DPI Headquarters in order to
obtain a copy of the technology-themed Disability International, or to order
a subscription.

-------------------------------------------------------

Information provided by Disabled People International
E-Accessibility to be theme for International Day of Disabled Persons 2006:
http://v1.dpi.org/lang-en/resources/details.php?page=667

E-Accessibility to be theme for International Day of Disabled Persons 2006

UNITED NATIONS, 26 July 2006

Improving access to new information technology for persons with
disabilities will be the focus of this year's International Day of Disabled
Persons, the United Nations announced today.

The Day, which is marked on 3 December, seeks to promote the integration
of people with disabilities into society.

Although access to information and communication technology (ICT) has
created opportunities for everyone, these advances have been particularly
meaningful for persons with disabilities, allowing them to overcome the
societal barriers of prejudice, infrastructure and inaccessible formats that
stand in the way of participation.

But, many persons with disabilities remain unable to take full advantage of
the Internet, because most websites are inaccessible to the blind and
visually impaired, heavily dependent on using the mouse, and because
training is often conducted in inaccessible formats and venues.  Most
persons with disabilities do not have access to new information technology
at all.

"The new computer-based information technologies have the potential for
opening up a world of new opportunities for persons with disabilities," said
Sarbuland Khan, Executive Coordinator of the Secretariat of the Global
Alliance for ICT and Development.  "The problem is that new obstacles are
preventing many of these people from reaching their potential.  We want to
promote good website design that allows all people to benefit from the new
technology, and we want product developers to consider the needs of the
disabled in their new designs."

Governments, at the first World Summit on the Information Society in 2003
in Geneva, committed themselves to building a people-centred, inclusive
and development-oriented information society, where everyone can create,
access, utilize and share information and knowledge.  By focusing on e-
accessibility, this year"s Day of Disabled Persons is intended to mobilize
action to allow persons with disabilities to participate in that global vision.

Persons with disabilities are at a considerable disadvantage by not being
able to access information technology.  For instance, as education
becomes increasingly dependent on information technology, not being able
to access the Internet limits the learning potential of persons with
disabilities.

Several places already have legislation and regulations requiring websites
to be fully accessible.  Global standards and guidelines on website
accessibility are being developed.  Once adopted and ratified, the
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will
require that persons with disabilities can access information technology.  It
specifies that certain measures should be introduced to eliminate obstacles
and barriers to information and communication, and to promote access for
persons with disabilities to ICT, including the Internet.

"Making information technology available to persons with disabilities is not
only a matter of human rights -- it also makes good business sense," Mr.
Khan said.  "Studies suggest that accessible websites appear higher up the
page rankings of search engines and can save costs on web maintenance."

But many websites remain inaccessible for the visually impaired and the
blind.  A recent study of the FTSE 100 companies in the United Kingdom
showed that around three quarters of company websites did not achieve
basic levels of accessibility.  By not making their websites accessible,
British companies are forfeiting £80 million a year ($147 million) in lost
revenue.

For further information, please contact Edoardo Bellando at the
Department of Public Information, 212-963-8275, [log in to unmask]


2006-07-28 00:00:00

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