IGF 2020 Accessibility - Closing the Gap

Time
Friday, 6th November, 2020 (11:30 UTC) - Friday, 6th November, 2020 (13:00 UTC)
Room
Room 2
About this Session
Closing the gap to improve accessibility for persons with disability is the key focus of the Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability (DCAD). This session brings together disability experts presenting their experiences of online meetings during COVID-19 as well as discussing intersessional activities and plans.
DC
Dynamic Coaltion on Accessibility and Disabiity

Round Table - Circle - 90 Min

New Online Format
Round Table
Theme

Inclusion

Subtheme(s)

Design for Inclusion
digital divide
Disability

Description

The program for this DCAD session is:

1. Welcome & accessibility check

2. Roll call

3. Introduction – Gerry Ellis

4. DCAD IGF Participation Support Grant – Gunela Astbrink

5. Experiences of online meetings:

  • Paulina Lewandowska has done extensive research in distant learning and teaching and empowerment for people who are hard of hearing in a practical and policy setting.
  • Petra Rezar or Damjan Šebjan have set up a project to share stories among Deaf people globally using up to 13 sign language interpreters from countries represented in each online call.
  • Muhammad Shabbir Awan will present his experience as a person with a visual impairment in academia and civil society in the Global South.
  • Discussion

6. Accessibility of 2020 Virtual IGF – Discussion

7. Proposal for a Best Practice Forum on Accessibility – Gunela Astbrink

8. National/Regional Initiatives – Judy Okite & Judith Hellerstein

9. Dynamic Coalition liaison – Judith Hellerstein

10. Mainstreaming accessibility – Shadi Abou-Zahra & Peter Crosbie

11. Conclusion

Relevance to IG

The DCAD session is highly relevant to Internet Governance and will build on its previous work of developing Accessibility Guidelines for use by the IGF to ensure the venue and online facilities are accessible. Spreading information about accessibility to NRIs in a targeted manner will mean that more persons with disability will be able to participate in Internet Governance debates and discussions on a global, regional and national basis. As well, increasing liaison with other Dynamic Coalitions leads to increased understanding about each other's work and shared learning.

Relevance to Theme

Inclusion is integral for over one billion persons with disability globally who need to access the Internet on an equitable basis. Persons with disability cannot be considered 'the other' but be part of the general community. This includes ensuring that Internet applications and systems are designed with accessibility in mind from the outset.

Organizers

Gunela Astbrink, DCAD Coordinator

Speakers
  • Paulina Lewandowska
  • Petra Rezar or Damjan Šebjan
  • Muhammad Shabbir Awan
  • Peter Crosbie
  • Judy Okite
  • Shadi Abou-Zahra
  • Judith Hellerstein
  • Gunela Astbrink
Onsite Moderator
Gerry Ellis, Feel the Benefit & Gunela Astbrink, DCAD Coordinator
Online Moderator
Judith Hellerstein, ISOC Accessibility SIG
Rapporteur
Peter Crosbie, CCNAF (Comité Consultatif National des Autistes de France)
SDGs

GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities

Reference Document: https://igf-dcad.org/
1. Key Policy Questions and related issues
Increased participation by persons with disability in IGF policy discussions.
The role of standards and guidelines in improving accessibility.
Methods of raising awareness of persons with disability as a major stake-holder to embed accessibility in policy development.
4. Policy Recommendations or Suggestions for the Way Forward
What policy sector(s) does this fall under? (leave blank if not sure)
Social-cultural
Technical
Overarching governance issues
Issue and Recommendation
Accessibility for persons with disability is a cross-cutting issue. Based on the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, DCAD will continue to raise awareness and advocate for accessibility and increased participation by persons with disabilities in the IGF. This will done through sharing experiences by persons with disability on our experiences of online meetings, presenting a disability perspective in other Dynamic Coalitions, working with NRIs to become more accessible and joining in a range of IGF workshops to mainstream the accessibility message.
Who should take it?
DCAD will liaise with the IGF Secretariat, the IGF MAG, NRIs and other Dynamic Coalitions.
5. Other Initiatives Addressing the Session Issues
Initiative
Proposal for a Best (Good) Practice Forum on Accessibility or Working Group to support the development of an accessible IGF website and associated online tools. The direct involvement of disability experts as part of an iterative development process can act as a model for other UN agencies to ensure that accessible processes and policies are pursued based on the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy.
6. Final Speakers
  • Paulina Lewandowska
  • Petra Rezar
  • Muhammad Shabbir Awan
  • Peter Crosbie
  • Judy Okite
  • Shadi Abou-Zahra
  • Judith Hellerstein
  • Gunela Astbrink
7. Reflection to Gender Issues

The session did not directly discuss gender issues. However, there was a gender balance in all the discussions.