---- Original Message ------
From: "Jamal Mazrui" <[log in to unmask]
Subject: Strengthening Accessibility through Global Coordination
Date sent: Wed, 1 Dec 2010 17:57:01 -0500

From the blog post at the web page

http://reboot.fcc.gov/blog?entryId=1017758


Strengthening Accessibility through Global Coordination

November 23rd, 2010
by Jamal Mazrui <http://reboot.fcc.gov/blog/?authorId=799608>  -
Deputy Director, Accessibility and Innovation Initiative

In 2006, the United Nations agreed on the language of a treaty 
known as
the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
<http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/disabilities-convention.htm> .  
The
treaty is going through a process of signing and ratification 
among many
countries.  In 2009, President Obama signed it in honor of the 
19th
anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A related endeavor is called G3ict <http://g3ict.com/> , a
public-private partnership encouraging policies to ensure that
information and communication technologies (ICT) are accessible 
to
people with disabilities.  Such ICT can equalize opportunities 
for
independent living, social inclusion, higher education, and 
gainful
employment -- empowering people everywhere, and especially in 
developing
countries.

As part of a collaboration with G3ict, George Washington 
University
hosted a policy forum last week.  Leaders in ICT policy from 
around the
world convened with partners from the U.S.  government, industry, 
and
consumer groups.  Karen Peltz Strauss, Elizabeth Lyle, and I were 
able
to participate on behalf of the FCC.  This is an exciting time 
period in
which unprecedented coordination is occurring among ICT-related
proceedings to set accessibility standards and policy, such as 
those
related to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, Titles II and 
III of
the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the 21st Century 
Communications
and Video Accessibility Act.  We all shared perspectives, 
identified
problems, and brainstormed solutions.

The ideas and connections were invigorating.  Let me highlight 
some
common themes as follows:

*	Market and technology trends are  integrating life globally.
*	Harmonizing accessibility standards at that level is 
mutually
beneficial among nations.
*	Technology products and services may be designed with 
unified
specifications  that prepare them for all markets.
*	Industries and consumers benefit from economies of scale 
that
lower cost and broaden reach.
*	Consistent policies reduce government administration.
*	Universal design of 21st century technologies increases
productivity of workers in economies, and participation by 
citizens in
democracies.

So, do you recall what CRPD and ICT stand for?  They are 
certainly not
household abbreviations at present, but many of us hope their 
meaning
will become part of everyday life in the future!


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