Date:22/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122254080400.htm

New Delhi

Internet accessibility sought for the disabled

Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI: Demanding web accessibility for disabled persons, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has asked the Centre to ensure adherence to globally-accepted ‘Web Content Accessibility Guidelines’ (WCAG) in the country and to frame a policy which not only requires government sites, but also the sites of all the listed companies, to conform to web accessibility standards.

NCPEDP, an NGO working for the rights of disabled people, is planning to launch a nation-wide movement for implementation of web accessibility guidelines in India. “India has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in October 2007 which recognises the importance of persons with disabilities’ accessibility to information and communication (ICT) to enable them to fully enjoy all fundamental freedoms,” said NCPEDP’s Honorary Director Javed Abidi. “There is an urgent need to effectively monitor and enforce compliance with web accessibility standards and make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities to access information on the Internet,” he said, adding that web accessibility means that all persons regardless of disability, age and other factors are able to perceive, navigate, interact with and contribute to the web.

Disability encompasses all types of disability including visual, physical, cognitive, auditory, speech and neurological. Since the web now pervades all spheres of activity including education, employment, entertainment, governance and business, it serves as a tool for emancipation of disabled persons by removing barriers in accessing print, audio and visual media, Mr. Abidi added.

Lamenting the role of the Centre in this direction, Mr. Abidi said while countries like the UK and Australia which have a disabled population of 1 crore and 39 lakh respectively have enacted specific legislation to ensure adherence to web accessibility standards, India which has a significantly larger disabled population (2.19-crore) has not made any efforts in this direction