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Internet Accessibility - An ASEAN PerspectiveInternet Accessibility -
An ASEAN Perspective
12-16 July 1999
Bangkok, Thailand
*Executive Summary

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Draft Papers:

Closing Remarks

Mr. Totok Soegandi
Chairman,
ASEAN Subcommittee on Microelectronics and Information Technology (ASEAN-SCMIT)
Friday, 16 July 1999

Distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen.

We finally have come to the end of our seminar.

May I take this opportunity on behalf of ASEAN-SCMIT (Subcommittee on Microelectronics and Information Technology) member countries to express our great appreciation to NIDA of Thailand, especially to Dr. Suchtra Punyaratabandhu, Special Advisor to the President of NIDA, and her staff for their hospitality and excellent arrangements for this seminar, to the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability for financing these activities - and to Mr. Clinton Rapley, of the Division for Social Policy and Development or the United Nations Secretariat for organizng those matters - and to our lecturers and instructors for their excellent presentations. We have learned a lot from you all. Our appreciation also goes to Dr. Linda Posadas of the ASEAN Secretariat for her energetic efforts to realize this seminar. Although the seminar was attended by only six of the ten ASEAN member countries, where Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar were not represented, we found that this seminar is a successful one of its kind, and we believe it could be beneficial in increasing our knowledge in this area.

Based upon the country presentations and the advice and comments of the respective seminar presenter, it is possible to identify three areas where a regional initiative can be launched by ASEAN-SCMIT. These are in (1) policy advocacy, (2) research and development and (3) information exchange and dissemination.

Taking into account ASEAN decision-making processes the immediate steps that can be done include the following:

  • ASEAN-SCMIT chairman reports to SCMIT (Subcommittee on Microelectronics and Information Technology) and COST (Committee on Science and Technology) on the seminar, presents the recommendations of the seminar and seeks comments and suggestions.
  • Recommend that a dialogue be initiated between the Committee on Science and Technology (COST) and the Committee on Social Development (COSD) to explore the possibility of setting up a joint COST-COSD Task Force on Internet Accessibility, and to develop joint programmes. The initiative could build upon ASEAN-SCMIT current work on some computer access issues.
  • Recommend that all ASEAN bodies establishing Internet-based information networks and developing their respective Web sites take into account the issue of accessibility.
  • Consider a collaborative project on developing enabling devices both for older persons and for persons with disabilities.
  • Establish an on-line forum on Internet accessibility for ASEAN.
  • Compile a database – or a directory – of bodies and organizations, both public and private, which are promoting Internet accessibility to be posted on the Internet World Wide Web.
  • ASEAN member countries may wish to conduct local awareness seminars on disability-friendly Web design, based upon materials gathered from this seminar.

Thank you.

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Last updated 09/14/99. Contact information