Agenda

1.Opening
2.Self-introduction by all participants
3.Adoption of minutes of the previous meeting
4.Discussion and adoption of the meeting agenda
5.Reports on current situation and progress:
5.1 From the chairman
5.2 From each participant
6 Matters for the previous meeting:
6.1 Implementation of ICT accessibility in accordance with the seminar in
Bangkok last June and priority area F.of the Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF)
6.2 Update on WSIS
7.Recommendations for the ICT accessibility to be included in the
international convention on the rights of PWDs
8.Others
9.Adjourn

1.Opening

Chairman welcomed the participants and showed his regrets that some taskforce members could not attend this meeting.

2.Self-introduction by all participants

They introduced themselves (*see a list of participants).

3.Adoption of minutes of the previous meeting

The chairman highlighted the following discussions mentioned at last meeting

(see the minutes attached).

(1)ICT Accessibility Seminar for persons with disabilities took place in Bangkok last June and ICT accessibility guidelines were established. Those guidelines were fully incorporated in the heart of BMF.

(2)Discussion about activities and progress of each country

(3)Discussion about having a good relationship with ICT people of ESCAP:
The minutes were adopted. However, the chairman felt that many people from the previous meeting were not present. Therefore, some corrections could still be possible.

4.Discussion and adoption of the meeting agenda

The agenda was adopted with the following items being added into item 8.

(1)Comments on the UN ESCAP website and the Resources CD containing all the materials related to the Expert group Meeting and Seminar on an International Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities held on June 2-4, 2003.

(2)ICT development in developing/post-conflict countries with special
attention to persons with disabilities

(3)JSRPD's cooperation with TWGDC using its own website.

5.Reports on current situation and progress:

5.1 From the chairman

The chairman gave a report on these following events:
Participation in the WSIS Regional Conference
International and regional perspective about ICT for person with disabilities were focused by having a working relationship with ITU and participating in making a draft for the World Summit on Information Society held in December 2003 (http://itu.int/wsis for more information) Mr.Buntan and Mr.Kawamura contributed to the draft of Tokyo Declaration which was announced during the Asian Regional Conference in January 2003 in Tokyo by giving important sentences such as special attention to persons with disabilities and balance of public interest and copyright law which may prevent people, especially those with disabilities, from having access to information.

Conference on ICT accessibility was organized in Manila, Philippines in March 2003.

Gender and ICT Conference, which was originally scheduled to be held in May 200 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was postponed because of SARS situation although Mr. Buntan was asked to join it as one of the speakers.

Thailand

In the first national workshop on strategic plan towards the quality of life for persons with disabilities, which took place on October 10, 2002 under the Prime Minister's chairmanship, ICT accessibility was highlighted as one of eight important strategies. The committee was set up to develop the strategic plan on ICT accessibility and has almost completed its task. The plans, which were built on the BMF, will be implemented within three months.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1991 is also in the process of being amended. One of the proposed amending sentences "People with disabilities have the right to access to information and communications including information, communication and assistive technologies" clearly reflects the spirit of the recommendations from the seminar last June and the BMF.

DAISY for All Project targeted to 36 countries in developing countries initiated by DAISY Consortium has been launched from this year and Thailand and India were chosen to be the first focal points of those countries.

Web-based Networking Workshops will be organized by APCD in cooperation with UN ESCAP form July 21 to August 1, 2003 targeted to 10 developing countries.

International DAISY trainers' training will take place in Bangkok for up to10 people who will commit themselves to become trainers of the production of DAISY software in developing countries sponsored by DAISY for All project from August 2-8, 2003.

5.2 From each participant

UN ESCAP
Ms.Aiko Akiyama reported that UN ESCAP Disability program developed the website specially focusing on specific meeting such as the Expert meeting. It has been started 2 months ago and updated on a daily basis by worldEnable Company which has been involved for many years with disability-related activities in the UN system. In addition, a specific site, where people can discuss on the issues related to the International Convention on the Rights of PWDs has been set up as an online discussion forum.In the future web sites for specific meetings will be added.Mr.Buntan commented that the general ESCAP web site is accessible to some extent although more work needs to be done. Also some accessibility issues concerning source files within the UN system, which are mostly in PDF format, should be addressed and corrected.

The meeting agreed with the chairman's proposed idea that the representatives from ESCAP ICT division should be invited to attend the next task force meeting.

Afghanistan
Mr.Ahmad Zia Langri from Afghanistan reported that there are about 700,000 disabled people; many of them were caused by mine injuries. Although Afghanistan is still in a very early stage of ICT development especially for PWDs, those who can use computer well can usually speak good English.However, for many PWDs, such as blind and deaf people, information access is possible only through television and Radio. Internet connection cannot be spread because of high expenses and poor infrastructure. To have a TV with 200 channels is very expensive. Braille system was introduced 40 years ago, but a very few have access to Braille. Literacy rate is very low among PWDs, especially deaf and blind people. Many blind people have been successful in their career by learning holy Koran in Arabic with 400 pages by heart. New technology, such as DAISY format version of the holy Koran can be a good solution to help make reading and learning much easier.

Japan
Ms.Nomura from JSRPD reported that an open Source Development of Adaptive Multimedia information System (AMIS-http://www.amisproject.org) started from last fiscal year to accommodate people with all kinds of disabilities funded by the Japanese Government is expected to be continued as a part of activities of "DAISY for All Project". This playback software is another generation of DAISY software which is developed under the principle of Accessible Design for All including persons with disabilities and will accommodate local language enhancement including those languages without written scripts. To further enhance this project, JSRPD will also hold a 3-day training of DAISY production targeted to teachers, parents and the supporters of person with cognitive and intellectual disabilities 6 times through the year of 2003.

6.2 Updates on WSIS

The chairman informed the meeting the list of events concerning the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS). The following sentences were taken from an Expert group meeting organized by UNESCO on May 20-21, 2003 in which Mr.Kawamura and Mr.Buntan participated. The meeting discussed, made some minor modification and agreed to submit such paragraph to receive endorsement by the TWGDC Meeting.

New 42
Design and development of ICT for all

The way in which ICT is designed and developed will determine its inclusiveness and accessibility if the information society is to become the society for all. Therefore specific needs and requirements of all stakeholders such as those with disabilities must be included at the earliest stage of design, development, production and evaluation of ICTs.The meeting agreed to support such paragraph as it is, but with one minor correction.(The word "such as" was replaced by the word "especially.")

7.Recommendation

The following Additional recommendation about the Conventions was made in this task force meeting."The meeting suggested that at the very end of the convention, there should be a sentence which states "This convention shall be translated and disseminated in languages and formats which are accessible to people with disabilities."

8.Others

8.1

Regarding the issue about how International donors and organization can provide assistance to developing countries, especially post-war countries in allocating and providing ICT development, a statement will be drafted by this taskforce and will be submitted to relevant organizations, such as the World Bank, ADB, etc.

8.2 Comments on EGM web site and general UN ESCAP web sites:

The meeting suggested that some additional features, such as "skip navigation" be included in the EGM web site and other UN ESCAP web sites. Future CD-based information should also include a "readme" file to make it easier for PWDs to browse through.

9.Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 11:30 A.M.

Written by Ms.Misako Nomura, JSRPD

* A list of Participants

1. Mr.Monthian Buntan, Thailand Association of the Blind, Thailand
2. Ms.Akiko Akiyama, ESCAP
3. Mr.Ahmad Zia Langri, Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), Afghanistan
4. Mr.Mohd Ihsan Faiz, Assistant teacher of special education for the blind, Afghanistan
5. Mr.Pecharat Techavachara, Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind
6. Mr.Yoshiki Yasuzato, Legal Advocacy for the Defense of People with Disabilities
7. Misako Nomura, Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities