Enabling Inclusion and Creating a New Future Proof Industry

Prof. Jutta TreviranusInclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC), OCAD University

Findings and Recommendations:Advancing ICT Accessibility in Canada

Importance of Digital Inclusion

• Access to online systems no longer an option

• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems and services are the new entryways to many essential services and activities of daily living:

• Government, commerce, education, employment, recreation, social engagement, civic engagement....

Social and Economic Impact

• When ICT products and services are inaccessible, there are negative repercussions for the individuals, family/friends/communities and also for:

• Businesses: lower sales, gaps in human capacity, lower productivity, less innovation.

• Governments: lower tax receipts, increased demand for social services.

• (estimated social and economic cost of digital exclusion is 55.2 billion annually in the US)

However.…

• ICT systems have the potential to offer far greater accessibility than “brick-and-mortar” alternatives, given their flexibility and adaptability.

Challenges to ICT Accessibility

• Existing accessibility standards are often not followed.

• Fragmented consumer market demand (in absence of government procurement requirements).

• Insufficient developer knowledge.

• Insufficient developer tool support.

• Accessibility features can be lost as platforms evolve.

• Key ICT assistive technologies are under threat.

• Specialized alternative access systems are less affordable.

• Accessible ICT may depend on language.

• Accessible ICT may depend on broadband availability.

7

The Technology Gap

• Standard information and communication technology (ICT) developers design for the typical or average user

• Assistive technology (AT) is intended to bridge the gap to reach anyone that requires alternative access systems

• the Assistive Technology bridge is inadequate and crumbling

• impossible technical task• fragmented market• only some disability, only a small

part of the world• increasing cost • decreasing availability, functionality,

reliability and diversity

Potential Solutions

• Growing global demand (including the growing senior’s market)

• Accessibility regulations (including government procurement requirements)

• Technological developments (e.g., easier personalization and network-enabled pooling and distribution)

• Accessibility in interoperability standards

• Raising awareness

• Collect data regarding people with disabilities and their use of ICT

• Development tools that support accessibility (more info on slide 9)

• “Multi-sided platforms” (more info on slide 10)

Potential Solutions

Development tools that support accessibility

“We shape our tools and then our tools shape us.” Marshall McLuhan

•ICT development tools can potentially automate many tasks related to the production of accessible applications and content.

•Tool developers are beginning to add accessibility support.

• This could be encouraged by procurement (e.g., reference to W3C-WAI’s ATAG guidelines) and research and development incentives.

Potential Solutions

Multi-sided platform

• Multi-sided platforms (MSPs) are powerful mechanisms for connecting various distinct customer groups in a way that enables new and more efficient exchanges.

• The highly fragmented ICT accessibility domain could benefit from an MSP that drew together the numerous distinct stakeholders:

• i.e., individuals with disabilities, obligated organizations, ICT developers, AT developers, accessibility service providers (e.g., interpreters, captioners, accessible document producers), healthcare professionals, and governments.

Potential Solutions

Multi-sided platforms

• The heterogeneity of the needs and preferences of people with disabilities suggests that a customer-driven “pull” model, rather than a developer-driven “push” model might be most effective.

• Connected to international efforts, the MSP can act as a pipeline for international demands and an economic driver employing currently marginalized suppliers and producers.

• A federated resource repository reduces wasteful duplication.

Major Recommendations

The Advancing ICT Accessibility in Canada White Paper makes 16 recommendations. The four highest priority recommendations are listed below:

•Support development of a global multi-sided platform for inclusive design of ICT and connect this platform to consumers and suppliers.

• This platform can create an innovative pull market that engages producers and suppliers while meeting the diverse needs of the growing number of individuals with disabilities.

•Establish an ICT accessibility office.• This Government of Canada office will enable coordinated action within

the Government and with other governments and entities.

Recommendations

• Institute accessible procurement regulations.• Procurement regulations will enlarge the market for accessible ICT in

Canada and other nations, as similar measures have done in the U.S. (i.e. Section 508).

• Harmonize ICT accessibility regulations across jurisdictions.• Regulations harmonized globally will be easier and faster to develop

and will be more acceptable to industry. Harmonized regulations also make it less likely that ICT that is not accepted into one market will end up being procured in another market.

Thank You

• Questions, comments?