This document summarizes two studies conducted by the European Commission (EC) on eAccessibility. The first study monitored the status and progress of eAccessibility in 12 EU countries and 3 non-EU countries. It analyzed surveys from national experts, technology experts, and policy experts. The study produced annual reports, a website with benchmarking tools, and reports on transposition of accessibility directives. The second study assessed the economic impacts of improving eAccessibility for web content, digital TV, ATMs and other technologies. It developed a cost-benefit analysis tool for organizations and estimated aggregate economic benefits and costs. The study provided recommendations to policymakers and involved member states in validating outcomes.

1. EC Studies on eAccesibility Jose Angel Martínez Usero Director of International Projects High Level Group on Disability, October 13th, 2010

2. 1. Study on Monitoring eAccessibility in Europe What is the problem? Objective Scope Approach Outcomes and MS cooperation

3. What is the problem? eAccessibility progress in Europe is still low Need of awareness about status of eAccessibility Need of benchmarking information among MS Need of detailed information for decision makers and researchers

4. Objectives Monitor the status and progress made in eAccessibility. Provide useful information tools for policy makers and researchers Establish a direct and regular relationship with the relevant actors Define, develop and apply a benchmarking framework.

5. Scope - countries 12 EU + 3 Non-EU + 2 voluntary basis EU countries : United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, France, The Netherlands and Czech Republic. Non-EU countries : United States, Australia and Canada. Countries participating in a voluntary basis : Norway, Greece

6. Scope - technologies TELEPHONY: Fixed; Mobile; Special telephones INTERNET: Web; Mobile Web MEDIA: Digital television HOMES: Digital homes; Telecare URBAN: Digital information panels EDUCATION: Electronic books; Elearning platforms WORK: Office technology hardware and software ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES: Hardware; Software

7. Approach Analysis of national experts (30 + 6) 18 technology experts (technology questionnaire) 18 policy experts (policy questionnaire) Surveys to main stakeholders Consultation to user associations in order to get feedback on some specific issued covered by the former questionnaire Workshops with experts Analysis of main results and feedback from decision makers.

8. Outcomes Web Applications : Website Balance Scorecard Tool Search applications and download of raw data Reports : Two Annual Reports Policy Inventory by technology - countries Report on the transposition of eaccessibility articles in Telecom Directives in MS Report on the interpretation and implementation of WCAG 2.0

9. MS cooperation Validation of Annual Reports Sharing of info Participation in the annual workshops

10. Visit us http://www.eaccessibility-monitoring.eu

11. 2. Study on Economic Assessment for Improving eAccessibility Services and Products What is the problem? Objective Scope Approach Outcomes and MS cooperation

12. What is the problem? People with disabilities are still not fully enjoying its benefits and opportunities provided by ICT eAccessibility is not a niche market, up to 70 million individuals:Market opportunity Need of robust evidence on cost/benefits Need of contrasted information at organisational level (decision taking) Need of strategic information and macro level (policy development)

13. Objectives To provide useful information on costs and benefits of eAccessibility At micro-level of analysis: Target : Managers of firms and public sector organisations Objective : Provide evidence and a practical tool supporting investment decisions in eAccessibility At macro-level of analysis: Target : Policy makers Objective : Provide a view of the magnitude of potential benefits and costs for the economy and society as a whole

14. Scope ICTs to be covered Web accessibility (primary focus) Digital television ATMs and self-service electronic terminals Provide the best practices in legislation, policies and practices Provide recommendations for improvement: Legislative, non-legislative, technical, business model and economic

15. Outcomes Outcome : The Business Case tool Instrument for ex ante evaluation in support of the decision to invest in web accessibility MS cooperation : Facilitating the access to field-level sources at micro-level E.g. experts’ tacit knowledge, grey sources, case studies, and documents not available online, etc. MS interest : Instrument to assess the MS accessibility initiatives at micro-level.

16. Outcomes Outcome : Aggregate figures of potential benefits and costs for the economy and society as a whole MS cooperation : Facilitating the access to: Secondary sources (e.g. official statistics, dataset produced by research, etc.) at macro-level Case studies of organisations that has carried out eAccessibility initiatives in your country MS interest : The macro-economic estimation and extrapolation may be used to support political decisions at macro-level

17. Outcomes Recommendations : Legislative, non-legislative, technical, business model and economic MS cooperation : Involvement in: Validation of the recommendations (01/2011) The final workshop to validate and disseminate the main outcomes (04/2011) MS interest : Guidelines for policy makers to boost the initiatives supported by the macro-economic estimation and extrapolation

18. Visit us http://www.eaccessibility-impacts.eu/

19. Thanks for your attention José Angel Martinez Usero Director of International Projects [email_address]