1.Executive Summary
The replies from twenty governments seven international organizations and forty-three NGOs from twenty-one countries are reviewed. The following is a summary of the results of the survey and a conclusion.
Summary of the Survey
First of all, we have to say that it is difficult to correctly review the policies and measures of ICT for persons with disabilities promoted by the governments in the Asian and Pacific countries since we did not get enough data of the ICT usage of persons with disabilities as a result of our survey. However we try to review it from other perspectives below.
Most of the twenty responding governments actively promote ICT for persons with disabilities, given the fact that sixteen governments take some measures to protect the rights of persons with disabilities to information and communications and fifteen governments support ICT literacy training for persons with disabilities. Fourteen governments organize disability awareness-raising training for ICT related people. However, funding seems to be a problem since ten governments responded that there is no system for persons with disabilities to utilize accessible computer/assistive technology equipment. In addition fourteen governments admitted they have not created networks of consumers with disabilities to increase their power to buy ICT products and services.
Twelve governments support ICT development for persons with disabilities based on international standards. However only five governments responded that they know what international ICT standards are only six responding governments have ICT accessibility guidelines for persons with disabilities, and only Pakistan has ICT standards for persons with disabilities. Hong Kong, China has a "2004 Digital 21 Strategy "and a"Policy on Bridging the Digital Divide. In Pakistan, the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities 2002 includes the ICT policy for persons with disabilities. Seven responding governments have developed standards in ICT telecommunication and broadcasting for persons with disabilities.
According to the replies from governments, eleven countries use sing language and ten countries use finger Braille as standardized forms of communication. Only two counties (Japan and Thailand) have the standardized tactile sign language used by deaf-blind persons. In Australia, there is also Audio Recording as a standardized form of communication. Fifteen governments responded that they have a system to train/dispatch sign language interpreters, Braille transcribers, finger Braille interpreters, and human readers, According to the replies from NGOs. sign language (fifteen organizations) and Braille (fourteen organizations) are more provided than closed caption and induction loop for hard of hearing people.
Six out of seven responding international organizations incorporate accessibility standards for persons with disabilities in line with international ICT standards. However, they have no financial resources to promote ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Twenty-six out of forty-three NGOs say that they have not got involved in setting up ICT guidelines and 21 NGOs do not conduct ICT-related training. On the other hand it is noted that twenty-three organizations do some activities to promote ICT for persons with disabilities. Regarding the details of the activities please refer to the section on "Results of the Replies from NGOs". In addition, disability advocacy activities at the World Summit Information Society by the ICT Task Force of TWG-DC are reported to be one of most effective practices and will give some ideas about the potential role of ICT for persons with disabilities in the fifth section.
Barriers to development of environmental infrastructure for ICT use are quite similar everywhere. Thirteen responding governments say they lack funding, training, knowledge of the needs and opportunities and affordable ICT materials. Five responding international organizations mentioned as barriers the high cost of ICT- related equipment and assistive technologies, lack of organizations with a fund to take initiative, no policy on ICT infrastructure for persons with disabilities and so forth. As for the response from NGOs. the following barriers were reported.
- Unstable conditions and poverty in the country
- Lack of financial resources, the high cost of assistive devices and lack of knowledge on ICT information
- No availability of ICT equipment and ICT training
- Limited physical access at IT institutions
- Lack of awareness regarding ICT for persons with disabilities on the part of governments and (potential) users themselves
- Lack of ability to access information by persons with disabilities
- Lack of government support for persons with disabilities to utilize ICT
- Lack of affordable telecommunication services and network not only in rural areas, but also in urban.
Conclusion
In line with the above results, we think that governments need to focus once again on the clear benefits of ICT for persons with disabilities and create appropriate strategies regarding information and communication technologies including information and communication services: and this should be done with due consideration of the official documents in the WSIS as well as Articles 9 and 21 of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The high cost is a problem mentioned by governments, international organizations and NGOs: but if the concept of universal design and the use of assistive technologies are included in designing, developing and organizing the environmental infrastructure of ICT for persons with disabilities, ICT for all can be achieved at an affordable cost and in a timely manner.
Finally, it needs to be emphasized that all member states of ESCAP should encourage implementation of the International Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, since it is a legally binding tool to ensure information accessibility for persons with disabilities: and in order that the Convention be implemented. BMF could be a strong regional policy in Asia and the Pacific.
We all regret that the ICT Task Force Working Group under TWGDC, a UN inter-agency operational mechanism. does not exist any longer due to UN restructuring. Therefore, it is hoped that a new task force working group will be organized to promote and monitor implementation of BMF targets in the priority area of information and communications for another five years.