Description: Fifteen percent of the world’s population lives with some form of disability, representing more than one billion people globally and constituting the world’s largest minority. This percentage is growing through population growth, medical advances, the rise in chronic conditions and ageing of populations, and eighty percent of persons with disabilities live in developing countries. Internet-enabled Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) play an increasingly active role in shaping the latest trends in assistive technologies and specially-developed technologies for persons with disabilities. Among other things, ICTs help break through barriers to communication and access to information and are also enhancing mobility and fostering independent living, thereby contributing to greater social, cultural, political and economic integration and inclusion. Some examples of ICTs that are being put to innovative uses by and for persons with disabilities include voice and facial recognition, virtual keyboards, and mobile applications that utilize artificial intelligence capabilities. Throughout the world, while some persons with disabilities are already benefiting from the advantages of ICT-enabled services, much more needs to be done to increase access, affordability and skills and to further develop technologies to their full potential for maximum positive impact for all persons with disabilities everywhere. This is especially important because persons with disabilities are overrepresented among those living in poverty, disability being both a cause and a consequence of poverty. Twenty percent of the world’s poorest people have some kind of disability and tend to be regarded in their own communities as the most disadvantaged. This session will explore innovative uses of ICTs for the empowerment of persons with disabilities, first seeking to enhance awareness of what is already possible as well as what is coming down the pipeline. This initial discussion will inspire the IGF community to further action and cross-sector collaboration to realize the potential of ICTs in this context, invoking both (1) an exploration of what is needed from an Internet governance policy standpoint to accelerate progress towards a more inclusive ICT-enabled future through and with the full participation of persons with disabilities and (2) Internet governance-related calls to action to the IGF community to advance accessibility for persons with disabilities. Confirmed workshop moderator and participants: - Brian Scarpelli, ACT | The App Association (N America)[Moderator] - Jorge Manhique, Disability Rights Fund (Europe) - Bunmi Durowoju, Microsoft (Africa) - Gunela Astbrink, GSA InfoComm (Australia) - Shadi Abou-Zahra, W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (Europe) - Tim Unwin, UNESCO Chair in ICT4D (UK)
Expected Outcomes: 1. Understand how universal design principles for accessibility be advanced across the internet to improve the experience of those with disabilities. 2. Capture and understand the uses of ICTs enabled by the Internet that are, today, empowering persons with disabilities, as well as what is coming down the pipeline. 3. Learn about what the IGF community do to further action and cross-sector collaboration to realize the potential of the internet to improve the experience of those with disabilities. 4. Appreciate the diverse perspectives regarding priorities and/or changes are needed from an Internet governance policy standpoint to accelerate progress towards a more inclusive internet for persons with disabilities, and take action to address needed changes.