Department of Information Technology
Draft Consultation Paper
on
National Policy for Electronic Accessibility
New Delhi,31 March 2010
PREFACE
The Constitution of India ensures equality, freedom, justice and dignity of all individuals and implicitly mandates an inclusive society for all including persons with disabilities. In the electronic age, Information & Communications Technology and Electronics (“ICTE”) is used in all areas of life such as education, health, employment, entertainment, banking, etc.
Keeping in view of the above, Draft National Policy (“Policy”) on Electronic Accessibility has been prepared for public comments. The policy recognizes the need to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disabilities and facilitate equal access to ICTE. The National Policy also recognizes the diversity of persons with disabilities and provides for their specific needs.
The Policy covers accessibility requirements in the area of ICTE. It recognizes the need for ensuring that accessibility standards & guidelines and universal design concepts are adopted and adhered to.
The stakeholders are requested to submit their specific comments / inputs on this Policy by 30th April, 2010. The components may please be furnished to Dr. Govind, Senior Director, Department of Information Technology, Government of India in electronic form /email : drgovind@nic.in / Fax : 011-2436 5434.
(Dr. Govind)
Senior Director
DIT, Ministry of C & I T
Table of Contents
- 1. Preamble
- 2. Definitions
- 3. Objectives of the Policy
- 4. Scope
- 5. Strategy and Action Plan
- 5.1 Awareness
- 5.2 Education
- 5.3 Research & Development
- 5.4 Accessibility Standards
- 5.5 Accessible Formats for Content
- 5.6 Implementation and Monitoring
- 5.7 Procurement Strategy
- 5.8 Affordable Access
- 6. Review of the Policy
1. Preamble
The Constitution of India ensures equality, freedom, justice and dignity of all individuals and implicitly mandates an inclusive society for all including persons with disabilities. In the electronic age, Information & Communications Technology and Electronics (“ICTE”) is used in all areas of life such as education, health, employment, entertainment, banking, etc. ICTE can mitigate the barriers faced by persons with disabilities in India as well as help them to participate independently in day-to-day life. It is therefore imperative to ensure that ICTE is an enabler and provides equal opportunities to persons with disabilities.
The National Policy (“Policy”) on Electronic Accessibility recognizes the need to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disabilities and to facilitate equal access to ICTE. The National Policy also recognizes the diversity of persons with disabilities and provides for their specific needs.
The Policy therefore covers accessibility requirements in the area of ICTE. It recognizes the need for ensuring that accessibility standards & guidelines and universal design concepts are adopted and adhered to.
The Constitution of India.
- The United Nations Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ratified by India on October 01, 2007.
- Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
- The Proclamation on the Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asia Pacific Region, 1993.
- The Biwako Millennium Framework for action towards an inclusive, barrier free and rights based society, 2002.
- National Policy for person with disabilities of the government of India 2006.
2. Definitions
“Universal design” means the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. “Universal design” shall not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of persons with disabilities where this is needed. [Reference: UNCRPD – Article 2]
Designing of online information also plays an important role for efficient access of information across different disabled category like (Voice browser for blinds, Guidelines for color representation of text and graphics who are suffered from night blindness etc.). W3C Standards for accessibility i.e. WCAG 2.0 is having all the provisions for representing the information accessible to disables persons.
“Discrimination on the basis of disability” means any distinction, exclusion or restriction on the basis of disability which has the purpose or effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal basis with others, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. It includes all forms of discrimination including denial of reasonable accommodation. [Reference: UNCRPD – Article 2]
3. Objective
The objective of the National Policy on Electronic Accessibility is to facilitate persons with disabilities equal access to ICTE products and services.
4. Scope
Scope of the policy covers access to ICTE products and services by persons with disabilities in the areas of universal design, assistive technology and independent living aids.
The policy covers the following:
- All Central Government Ministries, Departments and agencies thereunder
- States/UTs Departments and agencies thereunder
- Public Sector Undertakings
- Private Sector
- Publicly funded organizations
- R&D organizations
- Essential service providers
- Disability Organizations
- Civil society organizations
- Academia
- Any other entity related to ICTE access
- W3C Web Accessibility Standards (WAI)
5. Strategy and Action Plan
The following strategies shall facilitate implementation of the policy:
- Creating awareness on accessibility and universal design
- Capacity building
- Formulating and adopting standards & guidelines on accessibility and universal design
- Conducting Research & Development
- Developing Programme and Schemes
- Developing procurement guidelines
5.1 Awareness
5.1.1 Awareness be created through campaigns, conferences, workshops, seminars, etc. about ICTE accessibility - barriers and solutions.
5.1.2 Awareness be created about the availability of existing and emerging assistive technologies and independent living aids as well as schemes for the same. Such information be made available in public domain.
5.1.3 Conducting awareness Conference/Workshop/Tutorials on web accessibility standards of W3C.
5.2 Education
5.2.1 ICTE curricula to include accessibility standards & guidelines and universal design concepts.
5.2.2 Assistive Technology laboratories/ rehabilitation centres be setup across the country to facilitate persons with disabilities identify the right types of assistive technologies.
5.2.3 Curricula in Special Education and Rehabilitation to include assistive technologies and independent living aids.
5.2.4 W3C Standards can be included in web technology curriculum for education and awareness in web designing of accessible information.
5.3 Research & Development
5.3.1 Research & Development in ICTE and in the area of assistive technology and independent living aids to encompass accessibility standards & guidelines and universal design concepts, wherever applicable. Such Research & Development projects to associate persons with disabilities.
5.3.2 Incentives be provided for R&D for ICTE solutions with accessibility standards & guidelines and universal design concepts.
5.3.3 Schemes be formulated to support Research & Development for ICTE solutions for assistive technologies & independent living aids.
5.3.4 Representation of person(s) with disabilities be ensured in formulation, implementation and monitoring of schemes.
5.3.5 Information about research and development projects in the area of assistive technologies & independent living aids be provided in the public domain in accessible formats and in local languages.
5.3.6 Evolving future W3C Standards/Technologies for web accessibility in the changing ICT scenario.
5.4 Accessibility Standards
5.4.1 Accessibility Standards and Guidelines be formulated or adopted or adapted from prevailing standards in the domain.
5.4.2 W3C accessibility Standards and Guidelines can be adopted for providing accessible information on web like:
• ATAG (Authoring Tools accessibility guidelines)
• WCAG 2.0 (Web content accessibility guidelines)
• UAAG (User agent accessibility guidelines)
5.5 Accessible Format for Content
5.5.1 Content in electronic format including publications, periodicals, journals, multi-media, etc. and educational material including textbooks etc. be produced in accessible format.
5.5.2 Authoring tools to provide all accessibility features to be built in while creating web content.
5.5.3 Evaluation tools like HTML, CSS validators and accessibility checkers for making accessible contents.
5.5.4 Assistive technologies like screen readers, alternatives keyboard etc. to provide user interface to the alternative text in various modalities.
5.6 Implementation and Monitoring
5.6.1 An empowered committee be constituted to guide and monitor the implementation the Policy.
5.7 Procurement Strategy
5.7.1 ICTE procurement guidelines and processes to include relevant accessibility standards and guidelines.
5.8 Affordable Access
5.8.1 Schemes be formulated or amended for affordable access to ICTE for persons with disabilities in rural as well as urban areas.
5.8.2 Information about beneficial Schemes in the area of assistive technologies & independent living aids be provided in the public domain in accessible formats and in local languages.
6. Review of the Policy
This Policy be reviewed from time to time
BLUE color Text representing suggestion from W3C ndia
