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Towards Accessible ICT :
Promoting Accessible ICT :
Expert Group Meeting on Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)
for Persons with Disabilities
Beirut, 25-26 May 2004
Promoting Accessible Information and Communications Technologies with
Reasonable Adaptation:
learning from the Manila "Declaration" and "Design
Recommendations" on Accessible ICT*
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Annex I-A
MANILA DECLARATION ON ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGIES (ICT)
We, the participants in the Interregional Seminar and Demonstration Workshop
on Accessible ICT and Persons with Disabilities, held at Manila from 3 to 7
March 2003, representing the countries of Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Canada, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar,
Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States of America,
declare:
1. Possibilities to access the virtual world and knowledge-based economies by
means of the global Internet and related information and communications
technologies remain limited to many people in countries, persons with
disabilities in particular. Strategic initiatives to address a digital divide
must also address a human capabilities divide and be appropriate to countries.
Strategic initiatives should include, but not be limited to, investments in
education and training to promote literacy and build national capacities for
sustainable livelihoods to improve well-being. Initiatives must be gender
sensitive, cohort neutral and disability responsive.
2. Accessibility is recognized as an essential component of broad
rights-based approaches to development. As presented in Rule 5 (Accessibility)
of the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for
Persons with Disabilities,[1]
accessibility is important for equalization of opportunities in the full and
effective exercise of civil and political rights as well as economic, social and
cultural.[2] Access to the physical
environment and access to information and communications impact the full scope
of social life and development for all and can promote equality and
opportunities for full participation for everyone.
3. Our seminar and workshop have focused on accessible information and
communications technologies (ICT) with reasonable accommodation because it
empowers and enables persons with disabilities to full and equal participation
in social, economic and cultural life and in their exercise of civil and
political rights. At the same time, we have learned from our presentations and
dialogue that ICT is a member of the larger set of electronic and information
technology products, equipment systems and services that store, process,
transmit, convert, duplicate or receive digital information. Electronic and
information technology products include photocopiers, computers, personal
digital assistants (PDAs), facsimile machines, information transaction machines
or kiosks, automatic transaction machines (ATMs), voting machines, operating
systems, software (including application generators and development tools), Web
sites, public mass media (radio, television and cinema) and telecommunications
systems and devices. While accessibility in the full range of electronic and
information technology products and services is beyond the scope of our seminar
and workshop, as a general consideration, we are of the view that electronic and
information technology products and services should provide accessibility with
reasonable accommodation. Similar considerations pertain to provision of
accessibility with reasonable accommodation in transportation systems and their
user interfaces.
4. Accessible ICT with reasonable accommodation recognizes the flexibility of
technologies to provide appropriate functionality necessary for meeting user
needs and preferences. Addressing ICT accessibility with reasonable
accommodation empowers and serves as a catalyst and instrument for
re-engineering governmental, as well as non-governmental and enterprise
processes. Participants of the seminar and workshop note that the promotion and
realization of ICT accessibility with reasonable accommodation requires
consultation and advocacy of the fundamental importance of the topic with
governments at all levels and in all sectors of the societies in which we live
and work.
5. A major contribution of the seminar and workshop has been the
opportunities provided for exchanges of knowledge, ideas and good practices to
promote and realize accessible ICT with reasonable accommodation. Participants
of the seminar and workshop attach special importance to the continuation of
these exchanges as follow-up to the seminar and workshop by means of open and
transparent networks concerning accessible ICT. A primary objective of the
networks would be to promote awareness and support for accessible ICT with
reasonable accommodation appropriate to the conditions in our countries that
would meet the needs and preferences of diverse users. The networks also should
provide opportunities to inform about good practices as well as resources
available to advocate accessible ICT with reasonable accommodation, to create
awareness and to build national capacities. In this regard, participants note
with considerable appreciation the offer of the Asia-Pacific Office of Disabled
Peoples' International (DPI) and the International Center for Disability
Resources on the Internet (ICDRI) (non-governmental organizations) to moderate
network dialogue and exchanges in close association with the National Organizing
Committee, in particular the "WebAble" publication of the National Council for
the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) of the Republic of the Philippines.
6. Participants recognize that accessible ICT with reasonable accommodation
is part of broad rights-based approaches to development. Operationally,
accessible ICT with reasonable accommodation provides the flexibility to
accommodate the needs and preferences of the widest range of users. The value
proposition of accessible ICT with reasonable accommodation is equality through
inclusive solutions based on full and effective participation. Accessible ICT
with reasonable accommodation builds upon Universal Design concepts and
principles and are summarized in the attached "Manila Accessible ICT
(information and communications technologies) Design Recommendations."
7. Participants further recognize that promotion and implementation of the
"Manila Accessible ICT Design Recommendations" will involve commitments of
resources of a normative, substantive and financial nature. Three products
assume special importance for concerted, practical and immediate follow-up to
the seminar and workshop; and the support of the United Nations is urgently
requested:
(a) Preparation of a global comparative study on norms and standards
related accessibility with reasonable accommodation that will provide critical
input for promotion and advocacy of the "Manila Accessible ICT Design
Recommendations" in countries and respond to the request of the first session
of the Ad Hoc Committee to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral
convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with
disabilities concerning input from experts and persons with disabilities in
the matter of accessibility with reasonable accommodation (A/57/357, paragraph
15, as endorsed by General Assembly resolution 57/229 of 18 December 2002).
(b) Development, testing and evaluation of a pilot validation tool to test
and evaluate online Web site compliance with the minimum threshold of
accessibility with reasonable accommodation set forth in the "Manila
Accessible ICT Design Recommendations."
(c) Preparation of a scheme for training and resource materials on norms,
standards and substantive aspects of accessibility with reasonable
accommodation to build national capacities and to provide input to activities
of the accessible ICT network.
Adopted at Manila, 7 March 2003 <http://www.worldenable.net/manila2003/declaration.htm>
Notes:
[1] General Assembly resolution
48/96, annex of 20 December 1993 <http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/dissre00.htm>.
[2] See International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by General Assembly resolution 2200A
(XXI) of 16 December 1966 <
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_ccpr.htm >; and International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by General
Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 <
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_cescr.htm >.
Copyright (c) 2003 AIMS/VisionOffice.
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