Revised Draft Minutes of 6th ICT Task Force Meeting
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| Chaired by Mr. Monthian Buntan, TAB Agenda
1. Opening Chairman welcomed the participants and showed his regrets that some taskforce members could not attend this meeting. 2. Self-introduction by all participants They introduced themselves 3. Adoption of minutes of the previous meeting The chairman highlighted the following discussions mentioned at last meeting (see the minutes attached).
4. Discussion and adoption of the meeting agenda The agenda was adopted with the following items being added into item 8.
5. Reports on current situation and progress: 5.1 From the chairman The chairman gave a report on these following events: Participation in the WSIS Regional Conference International and regional perspective about ICT for person with disabilities were focused by having a working relationship with ITU and participating in making a draft for the World Summit on Information Society held in December 2003 (http://itu.int/wsis for more information) Mr. Buntan and Mr. Kawamura contributed to the draft of Tokyo Declaration which was announced during the Asian Regional Conference in January 2003 in Tokyo by giving important sentences such as special attention to persons with disabilities and balance of public interest and copyright law which may prevent people, especially those with disabilities, from having access to information. Conference on ICT accessibility was organized in Manila, Philippines in March 2003. Gender and ICT Conference, which was originally scheduled to be held in May 2003 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was postponed because of SARS situation although Mr. Buntan was asked to join it as one of the speakers. Thailand In the first national workshop on strategic plan towards the quality of life for persons with disabilities, which took place on October 10, 2002 under the Prime Minister’s chairmanship, ICT accessibility was highlighted as one of eight important strategies. The committee was set up to develop the strategic plan on ICT accessibility and has almost completed its task. The plans, which were built on the BMF, will be implemented within three months. The Rehabilitation Act of 1991 is also in the process of being amended. One of the proposed amending sentences “People with disabilities have the right to access to information and communications including information, communication and assistive technologies” clearly reflects the spirit of the recommendations from the seminar last June and the BMF. DAISY for All Project targeted to 36 countries in developing countries initiated by DAISY Consortium has been launched from this year and Thailand and India were chosen to be the first focal points of those countries. Web-based Networking Workshops will be organized by APCD in cooperation with UN ESCAP form July 21 to August 1, 2003 targeted to 10 developing countries. International DAISY trainers’ training will take place in Bangkok for up to10 people who will commit themselves to become trainers of the production of DAISY software in developing countries sponsored by DAISY for All project from August 2-8, 2003. 5.2 From each participant UN
ESCAP The meeting agreed with the chairman’s proposed idea that the representatives from ESCAP ICT division should be invited to attend the next task force meeting. Afghanistan Mr. Ahmad Zia Langri from Afghanistan reported that there are about 700,000 disabled people; many of them were caused by mine injuries. Although Afghanistan is still in a very early stage of ICT development especially for PWDs, those who can use computer well can usually speak good English. However, for many PWDs, such as blind and deaf people, information access is possible only through television and Radio. Internet connection cannot be spread because of high expenses and poor infrastructure. To have a TV with 200 channels is very expensive. Braille system was introduced 40 years ago, but a very few have access to Braille. Literacy rate is very low among PWDs, especially deaf and blind people. Many blind people have been successful in their career by learning holy Koran in Arabic with 400 pages by heart. New technology, such as DAISY format version of the holy Koran can be a good solution to help make reading and learning much easier. Japan Ms. Nomura from JSRPD reported that an open Source Development of Adaptive Multimedia information System (AMIS-http://www.amisproject.org) started from last fiscal year to accommodate people with all kinds of disabilities funded by the Japanese Government is expected to be continued as a part of activities of “DAISY for All Project”. This playback software is another generation of DAISY software which is developed under the principle of Accessible Design for All including persons with disabilities and will accommodate local language enhancement including those languages without written scripts. To further enhance this project, JSRPD will also hold a 3-day training of DAISY production targeted to teachers, parents and the supporters of person with cognitive and intellectual disabilities 6 times through the year of 2003.
6.2 Updates on WSIS The chairman informed the meeting the list of events concerning the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS). The following sentences were taken from an Expert group meeting organized by UNESCO on May 20-21, 2003 in which Mr. Kawamura and Mr. Buntan participated. The meeting discussed, made some minor modification and agreed to submit such paragraph to receive endorsement by the TWGDC Meeting. New 42 Design and development of ICT for all The way in which ICT is designed and developed will determine its inclusiveness and accessibility if the information society is to become the society for all. Therefore specific needs and requirements of all stakeholders such as those with disabilities must be included at the earliest stage of design, development, production and evaluation of ICTs. The meeting agreed to support such paragraph as it is, but with one minor correction. (The word “such as” was replaced by the word “especially.”) 7. Recommendation The following Additional recommendation about the Conventions was made in this task force meeting. “The meeting suggested that at the very end of the convention, there should be a sentence which states “This convention shall be translated and disseminated in languages and formats which are accessible to people with disabilities.” 8. Others 8.1 Regarding the issue about how International donors and organization can provide assistance to developing countries, especially post-war countries in allocating and providing ICT development, a statement will be drafted by this taskforce and will be submitted to relevant organizations, such as the World Bank, ADB, etc. 8.2 Comments on EGM web site and general UN ESCAP web sites: The meeting suggested that some additional features, such as “skip navigation” be included in the EGM web site and other UN ESCAP web sites. Future CD-based information should also include a “readme” file to make it easier for PWDs to browse through. 9. Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 11:30 A.M.
Written by Ms. Misako Nomura, JSRPD
* A list of Participants
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Mr. Monthian Buntan, Thailand Association of the Blind, Thailand IMPORTANT NOTICE: Change to JSRPD web site address: Old address: http://www.jsrpd. dinf.ne jp (as reported in TWGDC7 Minutes, para 28) New address: http://www.dinf.ne.jp |