Thailand’s National Digital Divide Strategic Plan Proadpran Punyabukkana Chulalongkorn University, Thailand Suchai Thanawastien Sripatum University, Thailand Ajin Jirachiefpattana Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Thailand

The Situation The poor in Thailand is defined as those whose income is less than 1,242 Baht (approximately USD38) per person per month In 2004, there were 7.08 million Thai (11.25% of Thai population) who were classified as poor 514,242 persons without any citizenship 1,098,000 disabled 6 millions senior citizens

The poor in Thailand is defined as those whose income is less than 1,242 Baht (approximately USD38) per person per month

In 2004, there were 7.08 million Thai (11.25% of Thai population) who were classified as poor

514,242 persons without any citizenship

1,098,000 disabled

6 millions senior citizens

National Quality of Life for the Disabilities Master Plan Focus on the disabilities with four strategies: Strategy 1: Promote and support the information accessibility technology and usage Strategy 2: Promote and support the dissemination of assistive technology and web accessibility technology and usage. Strategy 3: Promote research and development of assistive technology and web accessibility Strategy 4: Promote and support disadvantage citizens to enter the learning cycle so as to develop oneself into a productive citizen

Focus on the disabilities with four strategies:

Strategy 1: Promote and support the information accessibility technology and usage

Strategy 2: Promote and support the dissemination of assistive technology and web accessibility technology and usage.

Strategy 3: Promote research and development of assistive technology and web accessibility

Strategy 4: Promote and support disadvantage citizens to enter the learning cycle so as to develop oneself into a productive citizen

Focusing on the Accessibility Formulate national policy and agenda and implementation plans for creating accessible environment for accessing information so as to create a barrier free society for all Promulgate laws and regulations involving accessibility in building transportation, public services, telecommunication, and information & communication technology including assistive technology so that the disabilities can access information and get the services from government in a barrier free environment. Promote the teaching and learning of the universal design principles. Promote and support the education institutes to offer courses in universal design principles. Develop center for universal design study and expand to the provincial level to provide instruction and demonstration of how to apply such a design principle. Provide a mechanism for monitoring and tracking the accessibility as implemented and in compliance master plan.

Formulate national policy and agenda and implementation plans for creating accessible environment for accessing information so as to create a barrier free society for all

Promulgate laws and regulations involving accessibility in building transportation, public services, telecommunication, and information & communication technology including assistive technology so that the disabilities can access information and get the services from government in a barrier free environment.

Promote the teaching and learning of the universal design principles.

Promote and support the education institutes to offer courses in universal design principles.

Develop center for universal design study and expand to the provincial level to provide instruction and demonstration of how to apply such a design principle.

Provide a mechanism for monitoring and tracking the accessibility as implemented and in compliance master plan.

The Quality of Life Promotion and Development Act 2007 Section 20(6) requires that the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology must formulate the ministerial regulations defining the compliance issues as demanded by the law.

Section 20(6) requires that the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology must formulate the ministerial regulations defining the compliance issues as demanded by the law.

National ICT Accessibility & Assistive Technology Framework

Strategies for the Digital Divide Strategic Plan 2008-2010 Vision: Thailand will be a leader in providing web accessibility usage and R&D of assistive technology. Mission: Develop the realization of the importance of bridging the digital divide Promote the Thai government agencies to develop website based on the Thai content web accessibility guidelines. Support research and development in assistive technology Implement measures that would enable disadvantages to be a valuable Thai citizen.

Vision:

Thailand will be a leader in providing web accessibility usage and R&D of assistive technology.

Mission:

Develop the realization of the importance of bridging the digital divide

Promote the Thai government agencies to develop website based on the Thai content web accessibility guidelines.

Support research and development in assistive technology

Implement measures that would enable disadvantages to be a valuable Thai citizen.

Strategies for the Digital Divide Strategic Plan 2008-2010 Goals: Obtaining sufficient funding from the public and private sector for reducing the barriers of accessing information The government agencies’ website will be re-designed based on the MICT’s web accessibility standard. Establishing a assistive technology industry The disabilities can acquired and trained to use appropriate assistive technology devices

Goals:

Obtaining sufficient funding from the public and private sector for reducing the barriers of accessing information

The government agencies’ website will be re-designed based on the MICT’s web accessibility standard.

Establishing a assistive technology industry

The disabilities can acquired and trained to use appropriate assistive technology devices

Strategies Strategy 1: Promote and support the information accessibility technology and usage. Project01: Develop ICT learning centers for the disadvantages Project02: Develop tax incentive for promoting investment in assistive technology and acquisition of assistive technology products. Project03: Set up universal design research center. Project04: Donation center for acquiring assistive technology products for distributing the citizens who need the device or products. Project05: Develop database for tracking accessibility.

Strategy 1: Promote and support the information accessibility technology and usage.

Project01: Develop ICT learning centers for the disadvantages

Project02: Develop tax incentive for promoting investment in assistive technology and acquisition of assistive technology products.

Project03: Set up universal design research center.

Project04: Donation center for acquiring assistive technology products for distributing the citizens who need the device or products.

Project05: Develop database for tracking accessibility.

Strategies Strategy 2: Promote and support the dissemination of assistive technology and web accessibility technology and usage. Project06: Training program for web developers to understand the web content accessibility as proposed. Project07: Develop e-learning courseware for transferring the assistive technology knowledge.

Strategy 2: Promote and support the dissemination of assistive technology and web accessibility technology and usage.

Project06: Training program for web developers to understand the web content accessibility as proposed.

Project07: Develop e-learning courseware for transferring the assistive technology knowledge.

Strategies Strategy 3: Promote research and development of assistive Project08: Setup Assistive Technology Academic Co-Lab. Project09: Develop open source software for assistive technology. Project10: Public relation to promote Thai assistive technology innovation. Project11: Organize Thailand International Conference on Assistive Technology Development and Deployment. Project12: Set up assistive technology research fund.

Strategy 3: Promote research and development of assistive

Project08: Setup Assistive Technology Academic Co-Lab.

Project09: Develop open source software for assistive technology.

Project10: Public relation to promote Thai assistive technology innovation.

Project11: Organize Thailand International Conference on Assistive Technology Development and Deployment.

Project12: Set up assistive technology research fund.

Strategies Strategy 4: Promote and support disadvantage citizens to enter the learning cycle so as to develop oneself into a productive citizen. Project13: Competency analysis of the disadvantage so as to define the means to improve the quality of life. Project14: Training program for content developers to develop online edutainment material by Thailand Knowledge Center (TKC). Project15: Human resource development for disability assessors in assistive technology. Project16: Development of the right attitude for using ICT in everyday living.

Strategy 4: Promote and support disadvantage citizens to enter the learning cycle so as to develop oneself into a productive citizen.

Project13: Competency analysis of the disadvantage so as to define the means to improve the quality of life.

Project14: Training program for content developers to develop online edutainment material by Thailand Knowledge Center (TKC).

Project15: Human resource development for disability assessors in assistive technology.

Project16: Development of the right attitude for using ICT in everyday living.

The Relationship The relationship showing the Digital Divide Strategic Projects driving the 3 main enabling elements (web accessibility, reduce barrier, and assistive technology), and supporting three groups of clients

Implementing the Strategies The four main strategies and 16 projects will be the responsibility of the Ministry of ICT, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and the Ministry of Science and Technology. The focus must be on the outcomes of the projects that will create the desirable results. KPIs are designed to measure the outcomes. A project priority ranking criteria consisting of the factors: budget, policy, complexity, and interdependency are used to group the projects into three groups for three year implementation plan.

The four main strategies and 16 projects will be the responsibility of the Ministry of ICT, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The focus must be on the outcomes of the projects that will create the desirable results. KPIs are designed to measure the outcomes.

A project priority ranking criteria consisting of the factors: budget, policy, complexity, and interdependency are used to group the projects into three groups for three year implementation plan.

Conclusions The National Digital Divide Strategic Framwork will increase the social equality in using ICT. The Plan will assist the systematic planning of bridging the digital divide emphasizing web accessibility and assistive technology development to increase ICT access and reduce the barrier of accessing the information by the disabilities, the disadvantages and the senior citizens. The implementation of this strategic plan will enhance the quality of life of the disability, the disadvantages and the senior citizens.

The National Digital Divide Strategic Framwork will increase the social equality in using ICT.

The Plan will assist the systematic planning of bridging the digital divide emphasizing web accessibility and assistive technology development to increase ICT access and reduce the barrier of accessing the information by the disabilities, the disadvantages and the senior citizens.

The implementation of this strategic plan will enhance the quality of life of the disability, the disadvantages and the senior citizens.

Thank you for your attention.

Thank you for your attention.