ITU & TecAccess lead efforts to promote implementation of U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(804) 749-3565
info@tecaccess.net

Rockville, VA - September 4, 2009 -- TecAccess, a leading provider of accessible Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), has returned from the ITU Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Mainstreaming ICT Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities, which was held in Bangkok, Thailand from August 25 to 27, 2009. This ground breaking event was facilitated by ITU, an international organization leading the efforts to promote implementation of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, for a fully inclusive Information Society. The ITU Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Mainstreaming ICT Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities allowed professionals to share a range of critical policy and regulatory measures to promote accessible information and communication technologies.

The Forum was hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) of Thailand, and marked the first coordinated effort to promote implementation of the ICT provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). The Convention puts rights to ICT accessibility on a par with well-recognized rights to accessibility to transportation and the physical environment, such as ramps to buildings for those in wheelchairs.

The Forum was opened on behalf of Ranongruk Suwanchawee, Minister of Information & Communication Technology for Thailand, who in her message to delegates called the UN CRPD "a significant step for all of humanity, since its main purpose is to protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity."

It is expected that the UN Convention will make assistive ICT technologies as common as wheelchair ramps and audible signals for traffic lights, which have already become standard in many parts of the world. Assistive technologies include screen readers (which read content from websites out loud for the visually impaired), captioning or sign language on television for the deaf, cell phones that include features such as special volume control, large character touch pads and predictive text features, as well as the adoption of accessible website design by both the public and private sectors.

As of this month, 142 countries have signed the UN CRPD. "The 64 nations that have already ratified the convention represent over two-thirds of the world's population. Gaining the right to ICT access for the 650 million persons living with disabilities around the world has made the legislative, policy and regulatory activities related to digital accessibility a major priority among ITU Member States," said Sami Al-Basheer, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau.

The number of persons with disabilities is increasing worldwide, due to aging populations in some countries, as well as war and civil conflict, natural disasters, malnutrition and other causes.

ITU organized the Forum together with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The event welcomed some 140 participants from 21 countries, including policy makers, regulators, operators, industry representatives, NGOs and disability organizations, as well as experts and ICT professionals including people with disabilities and accessibility leaders, such as TecAccess, from across the region and beyond.

It was supported by the National Telecommunications Commission of Thailand (NTC), Australia's Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE), and the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC).

Dr. Eun-Ju Kim, Head of the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, said the Forum demonstrated that the Asia-Pacific region is leading the ICT accessibility agenda of the UN CRPD through multi-stakeholder partnership. "There is significant momentum in the region and a great level of awareness of the need to promote ICT accessibility. This Forum enabled countries in the region to not only provide a platform to all stakeholders but also share their innovative practices, "she said.

The Government of Thailand, which has ratified the UN CRPD, is working on implementation by establishing learning centers nationwide that include assistive technologies such as Braille printers and digital talking books for use by the visually impaired. There are also plans to use closed captioning for television programming to promote use by hearing impaired users.

ITU and its partner, the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict), recently teamed up to develop an online Toolkit for Policy Makers on e-Accessibility & Service Needs for Persons with Disabilities, to assist national regulators, policy makers and legislators to implement measures and foster national programs supporting the digital accessibility agenda of the CRPD. At the same time, ITU is a major champion of the role of agreed international standards for ICT accessibility development. ICT accessibility standards applied to different technologies will help manufacturers gain access to global markets and leverage economies of scale in production and distribution. Users benefit through lower costs and the assurance that equipment will integrate and work efficiently with other ICT systems.

For full text see:
http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2009/20.html.

About TecAccess

TecAccess is the most awarded risk management and accessibility consultancy in the world. TecAccess turns potential risks into a marketplace advantage through leading accessibility services and products. With a focus on Section 508 compliance, TecAccess makes Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) accessible to the world´s largest and fastest growing demographic - people with disabilities. TecAccess is a certified Woman-Owned and SBA certified 8(a) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB).

For further information about TecAccess, please call: (804) 749-3565, e-mail info@tecaccess.net, or visit our website at www.TecAccess.net.

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