Committed to connecting the world

EUR3 Ensuring access to telecommunications/ICTs, in particular for persons with disabilities

Objectives adopted by the WTDC - 14: To further promote e-accessibility in the ICT ecosystem, and provide administrations with the most suitable solutions available. Both objectives may comprise assistance to national regulatory authorities and sharing of best practices in cooperation with relevant institutions.

Achieved Results

Capacity of more than 150 professionals from more than 20 countries built in the field of accessibility through participation in the events organized in March, June and October 2015, resulting with a set of non-binding recommendations and creation of an extended network of accessibility experts;
Capacity of more than 30 professionals from 10 countries built in relation to international policy, law and practice for public procurement of accessible ICT products and services;
Strengthened collaboration between ITU and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU);
Enhanced digital inclusion in Zlotograd city, Bulgaria, covering up to 7000 inhabitants

Expected results adopted by WTDC-14

Assistance to countries in the following:

Formulation of strategic plans and regulatory frameworks promoting e-accessibility and building confidence in ICT use at the national level
Creating the environment for the deployment of solutions for e-accessibility, including television/ICT applications for people with disabilities
Capacity building and promoting e‑education solutions

Activities

Events:

Regional Workshop on Smart Accessibility on Connected TV (18 March, Barcelona, Spain) in cooperation with the European Commission and the Autonomous University of Barcelona;
Expert Group Meeting on Accessibility (11 June 2015, Rome, Italy) back to back with International Symposium on Respeaking-live-subtitling-and-accessibility (12 June 2015, Rome, Italy);
Conference "Cinema and Accessibility" at the Rome International Film Festival (19 October 2015, Rome, Italy);
Regional Conference "Role of ICT in the Development of an Inclusive Society" (8-9 October 2015 Belgrade, Serbia).

Training activities:

Development of curriculum and rollout of the online training on "Public Procurement of accessible ICT products and services", conducted from 12 October to 27 November 2015 on the ITU Academy platform.
Development of curriculum and rollout of the online training on "TV/video programming accessibility", to be conducted on the ITU Academy platform in 2016 (dates TBC)

Twinning programs and direct assistance to Member States:

In the context of technical assistance to countries in creating an accessible environment for people with disabilities, ITU provided direct support for setting up internet access points and provision of ICT equipment/software to be used by people with visual/hearing impairments (age related visual/hearing problems) in Bulgaria, September 2015.

Implementation plan agreed by 2015 Regional Development Forum

Planned set of actions for 2015-2017

Projects

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Projects/Pages/Portfolio.aspx?Status=&Theme=&Region=EUR&Country=&Keyword=