CBM International - DE - 3. December - International Day of Persons with Disabilities - E-Accessibility - Exercising the Human Right to Information

: Young deaf women at the Atfaluna Centre for Deaf Children in Gaza attend a computer lesson. © CBM

Persons with disabilities in developing countries are often restrained from exercising their right to information – this is one message to be stressed on 3 December 2006. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities addresses accessibility to information technologies, referred to as E-Accessibility Day.

The United Nations have announced this day "to raise appreciation among Governments, private entities and the public of the significant benefits to persons with disabilities and society when they are empowered with increased access to information technologies."

Further info: E-Accessibility Day

In general, access to information via media (TV, internet, e-mail and other electronic communication via computers) is very limited for the vast majority of people in developing countries.

Persons with disabilities often lack access to information services provided by the internet, either because they don’t have access to a computer at all, or, because the internet connection is poor in their countries.

And, in case that they can go online using a computer, persons with visual disabilities are excluded from information, if the website is not designed in an accessible way; persons with hearing impairments are also sometimes excluded due to non-accessible audiovisual features on websites. Other barriers exist for instance for persons with colour-blindness and those, who cannot use a computer keyboard.

Christiane Noe, CBM’s Accessibility/Inclusion Coordinator: "Living in an "Information Age" or so called "Knowledge Economy" while modern information technologies are developing rapidly, "e-accessibility" - the ability to access information via electronic devices - is crucial. All members of society should be able to enjoy the advantages access to electronic information brings about.
Research and development in the field of information technology should incorporate standards of accessibility and assistive technology applications should be made available at lowest costs possible, so that everyone can make use of and afford access to electronic information.

Considering the reality of the so called "Digital Divide" it is high time to close the gap and promote e-literacy for those who have been marginalized in this regard so far. Service providers should standardize principles of accessibility and users are to be encouraged in claiming their rights to access to e-information."

3. December - International Day of Persons with Disabilities

E-Accessibility - Exercising the Human Right to Information

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