What is meant by accessibility?
The term accessibility refers both to access to the built environment and to access to information. In the context of internet, e-accessibility is aimed at allowing the participation of people with disabilities, and it implies access to appropriate communication infrastructure.
New UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which will be adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly in December 2006, addresses accessibility in article 9. The text postulates that all persons with disabilities worldwide should be enabled to participate in society, and that
"States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas. These measures, which shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to, inter alia:
(a) Buildings, roads, transportation and other indoor and outdoor facilities, including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces;
(b) Information, communications and other services, including electronic services and emergency services."
With regards to access to information, the Convention specifies concrete action:
(f) Promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information;
(g) Promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communication technologies and systems, including the Internet;
(h) Promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost.
For further information:
www.un.org - Enable Website
Read more:
Access to information in developing countries
Internet Accessibility Criteria
E-mail accessibility
Accessibility of www.cbm.org
The human right to information
E-Accessibility - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
"States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas. These measures, which shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to, inter alia:
(a) Buildings, roads, transportation and other indoor and outdoor facilities, including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces;
(b) Information, communications and other services, including electronic services and emergency services."
With regards to access to information, the Convention specifies concrete action:
(f) Promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information;
(g) Promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communication technologies and systems, including the Internet;
(h) Promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost.
For further information:
www.un.org - Enable Website
Read more:
Access to information in developing countries
Internet Accessibility Criteria
E-mail accessibility
Accessibility of www.cbm.org
The human right to information
E-Accessibility - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
