Committed to connecting the world

Search
SDG

ICT / Digital Accessibility

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

​​ICT / Digital Accessibility

The key to ensure digital inclusion of persons with disabilities and other persons with specific needs

Digital accessibility enables digital inclusion and ensures inclusive communication for all people – regardless of their gender, age, ability, or location. To achieve digital accessibility, ICTs should be not only be available and affordable, but also accessible, which means, designed to meet the needs and abilities of as many people as possible – including those with disabilities. Accessibility of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is key given that ICTs have become the primary medium for communications, information, transactions, education, and entertainment worldwide. Its implementation by legislators and policy makers in all countries is essential to ensure respect for all people rights to communicate in the connected world.

To ensure that “no one is left behind” in the digital world, digital accessibility is recognised as a key priority in several global commitments related to inclusiveness such as: the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Transforming the World 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and, more recently the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy. 
ITU’s membership is fully committed to advancing ICT accessibility implementation in their counties and regions. This is also reflected in ITU’s engagements and contribution towards inclusiveness in several Resolutions adopted by our members to support implementation of digitally inclusive societies. Moreover, ITU Strategic Goal nr. 2 “inclusiveness” and its Target 2.9- calls on ITU Members to ensure that “By 2023, enabling environments ensuring accessible telecommunications/ICTs for persons with disabilities should be established in all countries”.

ITU’s Development Sector (BDT) work in ICT Accessibility supports the advancement of the global disability-inclusive agenda and the development of inc​lusive digital communities. It does this through raising awareness, building capacity, and providing policy and strategy advice to ITU members. BDT is also facilitating joint working platforms such as Study Group and regional “Accessible– ICT for ALL” knowledge development forums enabling stakeholders to share good practices and engaging in national and regional digital accessibility implementation. ITU Member States goal is to guarantee that all their citizens can benefit from digital information, products, and services equally and equitably.  Therefore, BDT is supporting members’ efforts in mainstreaming digital accessibility to ensure full and effective participation of everyone in the digital economy also by developing and making freely available the below indicated resources.


​​
SortOrder
  
Title
  
Content
ISOLang
  
1
  

​(on-line self-paced trainings, video tutorials national knowledge development programme)

-(Updated!) ITU-D ICT Accessibility: the Key to Inclusive Communication (self- paced online course)
-(Updated!) ITU-D Web Accessibility: the Cornerstone of an Inclusive Digital Society (self-paced online course)

Additional related training courses and programs

en
2
  

​(thematic reports and papers, toolkits, assessments)


Additional related guidelines and standards

-ITU-T FSTP-ACC-RCS (2019) - Overview of remote captioning services
-ITU-T F.921 (08/2018) - Audio-based indoor and outdoor network navigation system for persons with vision impairment
-ITU-T ​FSTP-CONF​-F921 (2018) - Compliance of audio-based navigation system for persons with vision impairment​
-ITU-T F.930 (03/2018) - Multimedia telecommunication relay services
-ITU-T F.791 (08/2018) - Accessibility terms and definitions
-ITU-T FSTP-UMAA (2016) - Use cases for assisting persons with disabilities using mobile application
-ITU-T FSTP-AM (2015) - Guidelinses for accessible meetings
​-ITU-T FSTP-ACC-RemPart (2015) - Guidelines for supporting remote participation in meetings for all
-ITU-T H.702 (11/2015)​ - Accessibility profiles for IPTV systems
-ITU-T H-series Supplement 17 | ISO/IEC Guide 71 (2014) - Guide for addressing accessibility in standards
​-ITU-T FSTP-TACL (2006​​)​ - Telecommunications Accessibility Checklist​

​
en
3
  
-ITU-D Study Group 1 Rapporteur Group e-meetings, 21 September - 2 October 2020, Multi Countries [E-Meeting]
-Third meeting of ITU-D Study Group 1 (2018-2021 Study Period), 17-21 February 2020, Switzerland [Geneva]
-ITU-D Study Group 1 Rapporteur Group meetings, 23 September - 4 October 2019, Switzerland [Geneva] 
-Second meeting of ITU-D Study Group 1 (2018-2021 study period), 18 - 22 March 2019, Switzerland [Geneva]
-ITU-D Study Group 1 Rapporteur Group meetings, 17 - 28 September 2018, Switzerland [Geneva]
-First meeting of ITU-D Study Group 1 (2018-2021 study period), 30 April - 4 May 2018, Switzerland [Geneva]

Additional ITU Working and networking platforms, meetings, and events related to ICT Accessibility 


Accessible Americas ICT for ALL events


-Accessible Europe ICT for ALL 2021 Portugal (coming soon)

Other relevant meetings and events

-WSIS Forum 2020 (ICT Accessibility Track) 
en
4
  

​(ITU Resolutions, Regional and Global Commitments, COVID19)

-ITU Strategic Goal Nr. 2 "Inclusiveness"  Bridging the digital divide focuses on global telecommunication/ICT inclusiveness, fostering telecommunication/ICT access, accessibility, affordability and use in all countries and regions and for all peoples, including women and girls, youth and marginal and vulnerable populations, people from lower socio-economic groups, indigenous peoples, older persons and persons with disabilities 
-ITU Target 2.9: "By 2023, enabling environments ensuring accessible telecommunications/ICTs for persons with disabilities should be established in all countries”
-ITU RESOLUTION 175 (Rev. 2018) - Telecommunication/information and communication technology accessibility for persons with disabilities and persons with specific needs
-ITU-D World Telecommunication Development Conference RESOLUTION 58 (Rev. 2017) - Telecommunication/information and communication technology accessibility for persons with disabilities and persons with specific needs
-ITU-T WTSA Res. 70 (Rev. Hammamet, 2016) - Telecommunication/information and communication technology accessibility for persons with disabilities
-ITU-R Resolution 67-1 - Telecommunication/ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities and persons with specific needs. 
-United Nation Disability Inclusive Strategy (UNDIS). Read the UN Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy​​​ here​.

Covid19 Response

en

 
 

​​ 

© ITU All Rights Reserved

Back to top