The European Disability Forum (EDF) represents 85 million Europeans with disabilities and aims to guarantee their rights and promote equal opportunities. EDF views information and communication technologies (ICTs) as enabling tools for inclusion, but notes that accessibility, availability, usability, affordability, interoperability and quality must be considered for persons with disabilities to use ICTs. EDF advocates for a binding European Accessibility Act, accessible public websites by 2015, and works on projects to enhance accessibility of specific ICTs like smartphones and enhance awareness of e-accessibility.

1. E-Accessibility - A perspective of Persons with Disabilities Nadège Riche, Policy Officer European Disability Forum (EDF) ATIS4All Second Workshop 9 September 2011 Prague, Czech Republic

2. European Disability Forum (EDF) Organisation OF persons with disabilities Representation of the 85 million Europeans with disabilities Representation of all disabilities: persons with physical, sensory or cognitive impairments, people with mental health condition Umbrella organisations of European disability organisations: 29 National Disability Councils and 24 European NGOs as full members Our mission Guarantee the human and fundamental rights of persons with disabilities Promote equal opportunities for persons with disabilities Fight against discrimination on the basis of disability Areas of Work Non discrimination, education, employment, transport, built environment, ICT, standardisation, etc.

3. EDF, E-Accessibility and ICT ATs Definition E-accessibility means access to mainstream ICT products and services by the widest possible number of people, regardless of their age or disabilities, in accordance with the concept of Universal Design. However, persons with disabilities, who are a very heterogeneous group, may still need in some cases special services or goods. It is therefore important to also support the development of assistive technologies and ensure compatibility and interoperability between assistive and mainstream technologies. E-Accessibility and Link with ICT ATs First: accessible mainstream ICT products and services Second: ICT ATs to accommodate the specific needs of persons with disabilities

4. Perspective of Persons with Disabilities on ICTs ICTs as enabling tools Accessibility of ICTs is not an end in itself, but ICTs are enablers for inclusion and participation in ICTs More important for persons with disabilities because persons with disabilities use ICTs more often than on average Aspects to be taken into account for persons with disabilities to use ICTs Accessibility Availability Usability Affordability Interoperability and compatibility Quality

5. Perspective of Persons with Disabilities on ICT AT State of Play Persons with disabilities explain that ATs are: Expensive Difficult and long to get Complex to use Inequalities in access to ATs between Europeans with disabilities Aspects to Develop the AT Field Create a AT European internal market for economy of scale Simplify the supply of ATs Ensure participation and involvement of persons with disabilities Providing information and training to persons with disabilities

6. E-Accessibility: Policy Background United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) Accessibility: Articles 3(f) and 9 on accessibility Universal Design and AT: Article 2 Concluded by the EU on 23 December 2010 Europe 2020 and Digital Agenda for Europe European 2020: smart, sustainable and inclusive growth Digital Agenda for Europe/Pillar 6 on digital literacy, skills and inclusion EU Disability Strategy 2010-2020 Accessibility as one of the main pillar

7. EDF and E-Accessibility Legislation Top Campaign on Freedom of Movement, including ICTs Freedom of movement of goods, services and people 3 deliverables: a binding European Accessibility Act, a European Mobility Card and the EDF Freedom Guide AGE-ANEC-EBU –EDF Campaign on Accessible Websites Digital Agenda for Europe: accessibility of public websites and websites delivering basic services to citizens by 2015 Call for binding EU legislation on web-accessibility Sector-specific legislation E-communications: Telecoms Package, Universal Services Directive Audio-visual Media Services Directive

8. EDF and Accessibility of Specific ICTs Projects and Cooperation to Enhance Accessibility of Specific ICTs Smart Accessibility Award with Vodafone Foundation and AGE: accessibility of applications developer.vodafone.com/smartaccess2011 Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative with the Mobile Manufacturer Forum www.accessibility.info Cooperation with DIGITALEUROPE on accessibility of TV

9. EDF and Spreading Knowledge on E-Accessibility Projects to Raise Awareness, Educate and Train on E-Accessibility ATIS4all, thematic network on ICT ATs www.atis4all.eu eAccess+, thematic network on e-accessibility www.eaccessplus.eu

10. Nadège Riche EDF Policy Officer nadege.riche@edf-feph.org www.edf-feph.org