TWGDC - Task Force Reports - Draft Plans of Action

• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

• Entrepreneurial Training, Small Business and Income Generation Activity and Development (Entrepreneurship)

• Education of all Children and Youth with Disabilities (EFA)

• East Timor

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Minutes of the second meeting of the Task Force on ICT
Thematic Working Group on disability-related Concerns (TWGDC)

Date:     Sunday 9 December 2001, 13:00 - 16:00 hrs

Place:    Horizon Hotel, Hanoi

1. Opening greetings by Hiroshi Kawamura, Leader of ICT Task Force

2. Self introduction of the participants

3. Approval of Agenda

4. Development concerned with Accessibility of ICT including opportunities and threatens.

Everyone talked about the above issue in the respective areas such as Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and ESCAP. The following issues were raised.

1. Accessibility of Digital TV system.

2. Disability awareness of MPEG has to be well raised in terms of accessibility for persons with disabilities

3. IT education project in Thailand may become a good example of IT for all initiatives.

4. Accessibility issues of UNESCAP and TWGDC Web Homepage, including skip navigation system by JSRPD

5. Accessibility of mobile phone not only for the deaf but also for the blind

6. Since ICT accessibility depends on commercial sectors, ICT sectors need to be well informed of the needs of PWD

7. Accessibility problem of ATM machines

8. Genome project was introduced

9. Accessible Kiosk user interface may accommodate the need of persons with disabilities including intellectual disabilities.

5. Case Study of Good practices of ICT for the UNESCAP Publication<

Monthian Buntan is the responsible person of writing a case study of good practice in "Accessibility and Communication" which is one of 12 target areas.

6. Proposed Task force activities

As a main activity of ICT Task force next year, a plan of ICT Conference was discussed. ICT goes forward without a legal protection for persons with disabilities. Considering this situation, a conference aims to draft a model legislation for ICT accessibility. It will consist of 3 components: two-day training for bridging the gap of digital divide among TWDC members, one or two days seminar for interaction among professionals/managers from major ICT industry and organizations PWD focusing on ICT Accessibility based on the achievement of WAI, the Web Accessibility Initiatives of the W3C, and at least two-day policy making sessions to formulate a draft model ICT Accessibility legislations. The draft will be submitted to the 4th TWGDC meeting to be discussed and shared by members. With the approval from TWGDC, the ICT Task Force will seek for co-sponsors and hosts to make it happen.

7. Other matters

Ideas for mass purchasing of ICT products to effect cost reducation were exchanged.