IctQatar introduces electronic accessibility policy to help persons with disabilities

Middle East Nov 30, 2011

DOHA: IctQatar has implemented the Electronic Accessibility Policy, the first of its kind measure in the country that will ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy equal rights and access to technologies being served by both private and public sectors.

Implemented as part of ictQatar’s Strategy ICT2015, the policy aims at ensuring persons with disabilities in Qatar have equal access to the technologies that can enrich their lives from a range of e-accessibility issues, including websites, telecommunications services, handsets, ATMs, government services, access to assistive technologies and digital content.

The new law took effect immediately after policy guidelines were distributed for the service providers concerned in both public and private sectors to follow and fully comply until 2015.

David Banes, Deputy Chief Executive at ictQatar’s Mada or Qatar Assistive Technology Centre, said their agency has allotted some QR3m operational fund for the implementation of eAccessibility law.

Mada was one of more than 30 organisations that provided input into the development of the policy, including government agencies, corporations and not-for-profit organisations serving persons with disabilities.

Dr Hessa Al Jaber, ictQatar Secretary General, said the policy  which was developed in consultation with numerous stakeholder groups, will make Qatar one of the most progressive countries in the region in terms of bringing the benefits of technology to persons with disabilities.

“For many people with disabilities, information and communication technology can be a tremendously empowering and enabling tool, however, if these technologies are not fully accessible, they may actually become tools of exclusion or isolation,” Dr Hessa said.

With the policy already set in place, Qtel and Vodafone Qatar are told to provide persons with disabilities with accessible handsets, user interfaces, relay services, special rate plans, emergency services and accessible public payphones.

The public transport sector and government-owned banks are also required to install terminals/kiosks and ATMs which are available at strategic locations and can be used by  people with low vision blindness, deaf or hearing impairments, physical disabilities and reading disabilities.

Maha Al Mansouri, Head of Training and Education at Mada, said they will support stakeholders to ensure that targets set in the plan are delivered in due time.

Source: http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com