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Interregional
Seminar and Regional Demonstration Workshop on Accessible Information and Communications
Technologies (ICT) and Persons with Disabilities |
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Interregional
Seminar and Regional Demonstration Workshop on Accessible Information and Communications
Technologies (ICT) and Persons with Disabilities |
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Main : Contributions
: United NationsReconsidering accessible information and communication technologiesby Clinton Rapley * A major premise of information and telecommunications planning and development is that timely and error-free delivery of information is essential for effective decision-making. The Internet facilitates these efforts by virtue of being a global computer network based on open standards that define (a) low-level communications protocols, such as TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol), FTP (file transfer protocol), HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol), (b) document content standards such as HTML (hypertext markup language) and XML (extensible markup language) and (c) image coding formats, such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and GIF (graphics interchange format). However, decisions on Web technologies, applications and ways in which information is presented can impact on accessibility. Recently, a major information technology trade publication, InfoWorld, [1] examined several information and telecommunication technologies that it considered were leading the way in positively disrupting the ICT status quo so that decisions could be done more efficiently and effectively. Ten technologies were identified:
These technologies are termed "disruptive" since they can bring about change in business (and governmental) processes and require organizations to re-examine the ways in which they work. Each of the technologies is targeted at increasing data flow and making information more accessible to more of the people who need it by reducing its complexity and cost. [5] The "disruptive technologies" theme issue of InfoWorld raises the issue of accessibility to end-users, but this does not necessarily mean that the respective technology provides reasonable accommodation to users who have special abilities or who rely upon assistive devices in their work and social activities. The discussion of disruptive technologies does not include consideration of standards by which the accessibility of each "disruptive technology" can be judged. Accessible ICT thus remains an undefined term in a fine set of analyses of "disruptive" information and communication technologies. In work at the United Nations, accessibility has been defined pragmatically as provision of "flexibility to accommodate each user's needs and preferences". [6] Two technologies identified - MAC OS X® and open source / open standards, such as LINUX - are accessibility neutral in that they are platforms for application generators and development tools. As new operating systems provide improved functions, reliability and security, they also should be compatible with earlier generations of assistive devices. New operating systems from Apple Computer Corporation and Microsoft Corporation come with "Accessibility Options", such as text readers and screen magnifiers. Accessibility aspects of the eight remaining disruptive technologies are mixed. The new application suite to be released presently by Microsoft Corporation - Office 11® - supports XML schema.[7] XML capabilities provide improved document security and enhance opportunities for sharing of documents in a variety of formats in work groups; XML formats provide reasonable accommodation for users with special abilities. The high-speed network technologies also are accessibility neutral; they provide increased capacity and reliability in the transmission of digital content. Enhanced communications capacities present developers with opportunities to design rich and complex content. The accessibility challenge for content developers is design and development of rich content that provides reasonable accommodation, which may involve, as in the case of the British Broadcasting Corporation's news portal, simultaneous provision of graphical and low-density graphics content < http://news.bbc.co.uk/ and http://news.bbc.co.uk/text_only.stm >. Improved network technologies - wireless networking in particular- promote "virtualization" - ubiquitous connections to office networks and the global Internet and support the extension of conventional work group boundaries. Virtualization introduces security considerations, including digital identity issues, and these factors can present accessibility challenges to those using assistive devices; digital identity may involve protocols or be based on computer languages that are not compatible with assistive devices. Reasonable accommodation considerations may result in decisions to implement 10GbE over Wi-Fi in work groups. Web Services and self-service consumer relationship management (CRM) can present challenges to reasonable accommodation among the disruptive technologies, since software components that are used to link applications via the World Wide Web of the Internet may not be compatible with assistive devices. There are reports of consumers with special abilities taking legal action against enterprises that have implemented Web Services, for instance a visually disabled consumer who took legal action against an air carrier since the Web site did not provide reasonable accommodation. Major software vendors are backing Web Services, so accessibility with reasonable accommodation might be pursued through technical bodies, such as OASIS a non-profit consortium whose mission to promote and encourage use of structured information standards, such as XML, SGML, and CGM, and to develop vertical industry applications, conformance tests and interoperability specifications that make those core standards useable. [8] To consider the business case for accessible ICT, it is useful to recall the analysis developed by Professor Clayton Christenson in The Innovator's Dilemma [9] on why accessibility with reasonable accommodation generally is not addressed in analyses of disruptive technologies:
Since policy provide the normative and substantive bases for action, in both public and private sectors, Web accessibility policy options represent one way to influence development and adoption of accessible ICT. A number of Governments have adopted policies or legislation on accessible ICT - the World Wide Web Consortium (a non-governmental organization) "Policy links" resources page includes "Web accessibility" policy links to 13 Governments [10] and the European Union < http://www.w3.org/WAI/Policy/ >. However, the international policy framework is limited to the Rule 5, "Accessibility" of the non-binding United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. [11] The 2000 "High-level segment of the substantive session" of the United Nations Economic and Social Council considered the role of information and communications technologies (ICT) in the context of the development of a knowledge-based global economy in the twenty-first century. On the basis of its deliberations the Council adopted a "Ministerial Declaration" on the role of information technology and development,[12] which noted that bridging the digital divide, creating opportunities to access information, and developing knowledge-based economies is largely determined, inter alia, by education, national capacities to generate and use knowledge, information connectivity and content, and policy and legal/regulatory frameworks. The "Declaration" states that achieving universal connectivity [to information and communications technologies] would require innovative approaches and partnerships. Special attention is directed to building human and institutional capacities for sustainable access to and ensuring equitable benefits of information and communications technologies. The "Declaration" makes special note of the essential contributions to be made by investments in education and training for all, including digital literacy, to enable developing countries and countries with economies in transition to participate in knowledge-based economies and to further their social and economic development. However, the Declaration does not address accessibility or reasonable accommodation of users with special abilities among its policy recommendations. The "Millennium Assembly" of the United Nations met in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000 to consider issues of international concern and action to address the challenges ahead. The Millennium Assembly identified "eradication of poverty and hunger" as the first priority of its "Millennium Declaration" [13] and expressed its commitment to ensuring "that the benefits of … information and communication technologies … are available to all". In his "Road map towards the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration" [14] the Secretary-General directs special attention to the contribution that information and communications technologies (ICT) can make to further the development and the poverty eradication-related Millennium Development Goals. While these major policy documents make several references to the "digital divide" and the importance of access to ICT to achieve social and economic goals, they provide neither normative nor substantive guidance on accessible ICT and its role in promoting equitable and sustainable development for all.
At the outset of the New Millennium accessible ICT remains on the periphery of international development policy dialogue. From a planning and development perspective, access to ICT mainly involves hardware and telecommunications infrastructure questions, while accessibility refers to the design parameters and capacities of ICT so that these provide reasonable accommodation to the needs, preferences and special abilities of each user. Action to address the digital divide is more complex than provision of ubiquitous and affordable digital connectivity. There is a digital divide but it is important first to address a human divide in terms of literacy, levels of living, and equality between men and women. Strategic initiatives to further digital connectivity must include investments to develop human resources, create skills and abilities to access and use digital content, and promote opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and improved levels of living for all. Structures and technologies to promote digital connectivity must be appropriate to countries if these are to sustainable. In our seminar and workshop at Manila, generously hosted by the Government of the Philippines, represented by its Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), we have opportunities to consider the policy, structural and technology aspects of accessible ICT and to formulate recommendations on networking and policy advocacy, on national capacity building and on priorities for further action. Our deliberations on accessible ICT build upon emerging policy concern with development approaches to advancement of persons with disabilities. The approach reflects the view that accessible ICT is a member of the set of development issues for which there is no single solution. Accessibility has been recognized by the United Nations General Assembly as the first priority in equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities[15]; it also is multidimensional and has normative, substantive and institutional aspects Accessibility with reasonable accommodation is one of the priority topics identified at the first session of the Ad Hoc Committee [of the General Assembly] to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, which invited input from persons with disabilities and experts in this regard. [16] An appropriate value proposition for our efforts in promoting accessible ICT could be phrased "best total solutions"[17] to realize reasonable levels of accommodation for all. This value proposition reflects a concern with the practical, equity and social inclusion. It reflects moreover the view that accessible ICT is not a special case for policy development but a fundamental question for policy development in general. By focusing on accessible ICT for all, one affirms that disability is a normal aspect of the life experience. Accessibility can engage and empower, it also can serve as a catalyst and essential instrument for re-engineering business and organizational processes. Planning is a future-oriented so it would be useful to consider three specific timeframes in an examination of emerging issues and options for action on accessible ICT:
For each question it is important to consider implications for institutional arrangements to ensure open and democratic exchanges of knowledge and experience and to further cooperative action on accessible ICT. The strength and sustainability of any institutional arrangement is influenced by the extent to which it responds to shared goals and objectives, has a clear mission, priorities and strategies, appropriate organizational structure, and mechanisms for regular consultation and communications. Notes: * Prepared by Clinton E. Rapley, Division for Social Policy and
Development of the United Nations Secretariat. The views expressed are those of the author
and do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations Secretariat. 1 InfoWorld, "Special Report: Disruptive technologies." vol. 25, no.1 (January 6, 2003). 2 IEEE 802.2ae < http://www.ieee802.org/ >. 3 < http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/11/index.html >. 4 Web Services Working Group < http://www.w3.org/2002/ws/ >. 5 Ibid, Ephram Schwartz, Defining disruption; technologies bring change to IT, business worlds," http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/01/03/030106hndtintro_1.html. 6 "Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, report of the Secretary-General (A/54/388/Add.1)" < http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disa54e6.htm#A >. 7 < http://www.w3.org/XML/ >. 8 OASIS [Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards] technical overview <http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/>. 9 Clayton M Christensen, The Innovator's Dilemma; when new technologies cause great firms to fail (Cambridge MA, Harvard Business School Press, 1997). 10 Australia, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and United States of America. 11 General Assembly resolution 48/96, annex, of 20 December 1993 http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/dissre00.htm >. Rule 5 provides "States should recognize the overall importance of accessibility in the process of the equalization of opportunities in all spheres of society. For persons with disabilities of any kind, States should (a) introduce programmes of action to make the physical environment accessible; and (b) undertake measures to provide access to information and communication." 12 Economic and Social Council document E/2000/L.9 http://www.un.org/documents/ecosoc/docs/2000/e2000-l9.pdf . 13 General Assembly resolution 55/2 http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/55/ar555002.pdf . 14 General Assembly document A/56/326 http://www.un.org/documents/ga/docs/56/a56326.pdf . 15 General Assembly resolution 52/82 of 12 December 1997, operative paragraph 4 <http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disimpe0.htm>. 16 Report (A/57/357) < http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/adhoca57357e.htm >. 17 Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema, The Discipline of Market Leaders (London, Harper and Collins, 1996), p. 135. |
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