Digital Doha Summit - eAccessability in Qatar
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This document summarizes Qatar's efforts to promote digital accessibility, or eAccessibility. It outlines Mada, Qatar's Assistive Technology Center, and its role in establishing policies, conducting research, training, and providing assistive technologies. The document also notes key barriers to digital accessibility in Qatar and attitudes that impede progress. Overall, the document aims to promote Qatar's eAccessibility policy and Mada's support for making digital content and technologies accessible to people with disabilities.
Digital Doha Summit - eAccessability in Qatar
- 1. eAccessibility in Qatar ictQatar Policy and Mada Support June 12 2012
- 2. Mada Qatar Assis1ve Technology Center • Established in June 2010 • Response to UNCRPD • One stop shop for people with a disability to connect to technology • Any age any need • Access to technology • Access to Digital Content
- 3. Mada Qatar Assis1ve Technology Center Research and Awareness Development Consultancy Advice Training Assessment/ Audit Provision of technology
- 4. eAccessibility Policy – why ? Ensures persons Removes barriers with disabili1es can to accessing and use computers, mobile using ICT phones, the Internet, products, services ATMs and and applica1ons digital content on an equal basis with others
- 5. eAccessibility Policy – why ? Number of people with disability: By type of disability (Difficulty) 4000 3500 Number of people with disability 3000 2500 2000 3,402 1500 3,005 2,424 2,355 2,266 1000 1,602 500 1,109 0 Walking Talking & Visual Self-‐Care Remembering Hearing Other Understanding
- 6. eAccessibility Policy – why ? Presence & Usage of ICT products in the household Ebook reader 4 6 Tablet PC (iPad/Galaxy Tab) 23 30 Digital music player / iPod 27 39 Internet (on Mobile phone) 26 48 Desktop Computer 49 74 Laptop 57 79 Radio 43 86 Internet (on Laptop/ Computer) 64 86 Fixed line phone 59 96 Television 89 99 Mobile phone 75 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Ever Used by disabled person Present in household
- 7. 5 key barriers 1. Websites designed for audiences in Qatar are mostly not accessible by interna1onal standards – The World Wide Web’s Consor1um’s 2nd edi1on of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines level AA 2. Cri1cal telecommunica1ons services and suppor1ng technologies are s1ll needed by those with disabili1es – emergency services, public pay phones and relay services are s1ll unavailable 3. ATMs do not have features to enable many persons with disabili1es to use them independently 4. Assis1ve Technologies (ATs) – are not widely available to persons with disabili1es and families, teachers and employers are not fully aware of their benefits 5. Local digital content – music, text, audio, images and video is mostly inaccessible to the those with disabili1es in Qatar.
- 8. Adtudes and Barriers – Vendors ! “No one else is asking for it” To this we would simply state that this is a condi1on of this tender, and moreover you cannot ignore any legal or policy framework. “We’re an internaOonal company and we can’t comply with every naOonal request” In this case, the value of standards is clear. You are not asking for compliance to a single set of laws or policies, instead you are referring to interna1onal standards upon which most law and policy is based. “We have made a corporate decision to apply to a single internaOonal standard” In this case, it is reasonable to ask which standards and to ask for a compliance report against those standards “We’ll do it, but it’s going to cost you” One can choose to accept the addi1onal costs, but this will need to be factored into the total cost of procurement within the compe11ve dialogue with all those offering a tender. “Disabled people have never complained before.” Unless you have been proac1ve in seeking opinions from disabled people, then this would not be a useful piece of evidence. It makes assump1ons that the person is willing to complain, and in fact believes that a complaint would be listened to, or even that they know how to complain. Moreover, it is reasonable to ask: Have we spoken to disabled stakeholders to gather their opinion?
- 9. Current Status Autumn 2011
- 10. Website Accredita1on March 2012-‐May 2012 6 1 0
- 11. Website Accredita1on Does the website meet agreed standards? Yes No Award; Develop action plan to “Access Certified” status address issues Does the website go beyond Agree plan and AA standards? “Access Planning” status Yes Address issues Award re-submit for review “Access Award” status No Agree Action Plan Address Issues Re-certify
- 12. Mada Support Review of Site Consultancy Commitment Training Full Audit
- 13. Guide to Accessible Websites
- 14. Contact us • Contact: Mike Park Mada, Qatar AssisOve Technology Center e-‐Accessibility Services Address: 8th floor, Al Nasr Tower B, Al Corniche Road PO Box 24230, Doha, Qatar Office Telephone: +974 4459 4063 E-‐mail: mpark@mada.org.qa • Website: www.mada.org.qa
- 15. Follow us • Twiner -‐ @madaqatc • Facebook – www.facebook.com/madaqatc • YouTube – www.youtube.com/qatcmada • www.mada.org.qa