eaccessibility legislation review & cba
DESCRIPTION
Presented at a seminar at NUI Galway in November 2012. For more information: http://disabilityrightsresearch.com/2012/12/19/dream-fellow-presenting-to-nui-galway-students/TRANSCRIPT
eAccessibility: Legislation Review and
CBA
Robert HuffakerMarie Curie Fellow at DREAM Programme
Technical Officer at TechnositeExternal PhD Student at NUIG CDLP
Can ICT expand markets?…
… and create value?
3
Introduction
• What is ICT, eAccessibility and Web Accessibility
Web accessibility vs. eAccessibility
eAccessibility
Web Accessibility
5
Introduction
• Disabled People / People with disabilities (PwD) are still
not fully enjoying benefits and opportunities provided by
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
• Accessible ICTs are essential enablers for participating in
the economy and society, to exercise freedom of choice
and to have an independent living (UNCRPD)
• MeAC and other studies shows that eAccessibility level in
Europe is still low
• Not a niche market: Important business opportunity
6
Some examples…
• APSIS4all project: http://www.apsis4all.eu/
There is still a need of evidence on cost/benefits and
impacts of accessible ICT
Steps
Gather evidence from secondary sources to analyse the
current situation?
Gather evidence from field research? Surveys?
Elaborate Case Studies?
Identify Key Aspects: Costs and Benefits?
Develop Models?
Propose recommendations?
How to identify costs and benefits …
Web accessibility
• All companies considered web accessibility important.
• More than 50% of the Websites were designed to be
accessible from the start.
• Reasons for launching an accessible Website :
compliance with the legal requirements,
support of the company CSR policy
widening the number and characteristics of users
usability
• Most Websites were developed either by an external
consultancy (44%) or in a partnership (34%)
Surveying organisations: Motivations for web accessibility
• Web accessibility is linked with the operational performance
of the Website, i.e. usability enhancement, faster loading
time, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), etc.
• The improvement in social image is considered critical,
especially as a part of a wider Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) strategy.
• The “two ticks accreditation” (in the UK, indicating that an
employer is committed to supporting or employing PwD).
• Better profile in media publications and public reports.
• Avoiding legal costs and fines arising from litigation
• Decrease in user complaints.
Surveying organisations: Perceived benefits
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Estimations and Extrapolations Key Aspects Quantified (Macroeconomic Level)
USERS LEVEL BENEFITS
ORGANISATIONAL LEVEL BENEFITS
•Potential increase in employment for PwD
•Public sector efficiency gains from more users of eGovernment services
•Potential increase in wages for PwD
•Private sector increased sales from eCommerce
•Increased consumer welfare from access to eCommerce and eBanking
ORGANISATIONAL LEVEL COSTS
•Increased convenience and savings from access to eGovernment services
•Organisational extra costs attributable to implementing and maintaining web accessibility
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Estimations and Extrapolations Results overview: net present value of aggregate net
benefits (30-year horizon; discount rate 2,5%)
YEAR WHEN RESULTS ARE POSITIVE
Target 5%
scenario 1Under no scenario the policy impact give
positive net benefitsscenario 2
scenario 3
Target 25%
scenario 1 No positive net benefits
scenario 2 Net benefits positive after 10 years
scenario 3 Net benefits positive after 4 years
Target 50%
scenario 1 Net benefits positive after 23 years
scenario 2 Net benefits positive after 3 years
scenario 3 Net benefits positive after 1 year
Target 100%
scenario 1 Net benefits positive after 4 years
scenario 2 Net benefits positive after 1 year
scenario 3 Net benefits positive from the start
Part 2: Legislation Review
UNCRPDAccessibility is identified in Article 3(f) as one of its eight
principles, and accessibility rights, including ICT, are established as a condition for persons with disabilities to exercise their fundamental freedoms and human rights.
The importance of accessibility is underscored by the fact that the word ‘access’ has been used nine times, and accessibility seventeen times throughout the text of the treaty (Narasimhan and Lebois 2012).
Article 9 of the CRPD deals with the right of access to education, employment, information, transportation, social and cultural life and entertainment. ICTs are affected in almost all of these aspects, proving to be a wide-reaching goal on behalf of the UN.
IRELANDAccording to the National Disability Authority (NDA), Irish public policy includes requirements for government department websites to conform to Priority Levels 1 and 2 of the W3C WCAG 1.0.
Mary McAleese, officially launched the Excellence through Accessibility Award program.
In addition, the Disability Act of 2005 requires access to information and provides for a complaint-filing process effective December 31, 2005. Section 28 of the legislation states in part
Department of the Taoiseach’s “New Connections—A Strategy to realize the potential of the Information Society” stated that “all public websites are required to be WAI (level 2) compliant by end 2001”.
NDA: Irish National Disability Authority IT Accessibility Guidelines for web, telecommunications, public access terminals, and application software.
SPAINLaw 34, June 11, 2002—Information Society and Electronic
Commerce Services Act
Law 51/2003, December 2, 2003—regarding equality of
opportunities, nondiscrimination, and universal accessibility for
people with disabilities Called LIONDAU: de igualdad de
oportunidades, no discriminación y accesibilidad universal de
las personas con discapacidad
Royal Decree 209, February 21, 2003—regarding registries
and the telematic notifications
Law 59, December 19, 2003—regarding electronic signature
Diversity of ICT capabilities…
… diversity of user profiles and situations…
Thank you!
Robert Huffaker
es.linkedin.com/in/robhuffaker
Skype: robhuffaker
www.roberthuffaker.com