Views are changing: these documents provide a vision on a more inclusive society or set out strategies for a more inclusive Information Society.
2005 EC Communication on eAccessibility: In this Communication, the European Commission proposes a set of policy actions that foster eAccessibility. It calls on Member States and stakeholders to support voluntary positive actions to make accessible ICT products and services far more widely available in Europe.
i2010 - A European Information Society for growth and employment: The European Commission proposes a new strategic framework, i2010 - European Information Society 2010, laying out broad policy orientations. It promotes an open and competitive digital economy and emphasises ICT as a driver of inclusion and quality of life.
Enabling a Digitally United Kingdom (pdf format, 1.57MB), Cabinet Office, London, UK. The work of the Digital Inclusion Panel examined ways to widen access to digital technology across all sections of society. This report looks how people use digital technology and gives recommendations to increase access.
eAccessibility of public sector services in the European Union, Cabinet Office, London, UK. The purpose of this report is to present results from a comprehensive assessment of the eAccessibility of government online services across the European Union (EU). The study breaks new ground in aiming to test how well the 25 Member States of the EU and the European Commission meet this requirement in 2005.
Transformational Government - Enabled by Technology, CHief Information Officer Council, London, UK. The Government has published 'Transformational Government - Enabled by Technology', a strategy for transforming public services using technology. The strategy sets out how effective use of technology designed around citizens' and businesses' needs can make a real difference to people's daily lives. It is not simply about the internet, but is a far more profound approach that goes to the heart of public services delivery.
Highway to democr@cy - The Council of Europe and the information society. The wide application of the information and communications technology (ICT) has transformed almost every aspect of life in our societies. Kate Oakley's holistic approach covers ICT's role in employment, economic growth, media, education, science and technology, law, cultural industries, as well as nascent fields such as e-voting and e-governance.
US Section 508 website. In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an individual's ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals.
Outline DRC Response to the Strategic Rail Authority's Consultation Document Railways for All (MS Word format): The DRC welcomes the publication of the Strategic Rail Authority's draft strategy on accessibility. We believe it marks a significant and important step forward in providing accessibility to the rail network for disabled people.
ICT and Disability Policy, a page from Malta's Foundation for IT Accessibility.
UNESCO: ICT and Persons with Disabilities: information about UNESCO and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
Disability and the Digital Divide: An Employers' Forum on Disability Briefing for CSR Practitioners.
Digital Divide between People with Disabilities: Proceedings of a 2003 ICAT workshop by The British Computer Society Disability Group (MS Word format).
Charter for Media Literacy: a charter intended to raise the profile of media literacy as a significant portfolio of skills, knowledge and understanding needed by every citizen in the 21st Century.