Regional Conference on: Sharing Experience Best Practices in ICT Services for Persons With DisabilitiesEMRO, Cairo,13 15 November 2007By: Ghassan Shahrour, MD, SyrmiaGhassan.dr@gmail.com

This background paper on the use of ICT, by persons with disability includes:

Background on disability in the region in terms of types of disability and estimates in the population;The efforts made by UN agencies to institutes the rights of persons with disabilities and coverage of ICT in different declaration;Examples from EMR countries on the coverage of the rights of persons with disabilities and access to services;ICT applications to support persons with disabilities: examples from countries and industries.

The Magnitude of Disability in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A- Prevalence:B-Types of Disability:C- Definition of Disability in National Laws:D- Causes of Disability:

The Magnitude of Disability in the Eastern Mediterranean Region:

A- Prevalence:Different Estimates among countries and communities

B-Types of Disability:

B-Types of Disability:

B-Types of Disability:

1

1

0.50.7

0.20.5

0.0440.09

0.010.17

0.30.6

60

80

AGING OF POPULATIONSPERCENTAGE OF THE ELDERS

Distribution of Physical DisabilityDistribution of Hearing Disability

C- Definition of Disability in National Laws:In ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT -In SAUDI ARABIA: -In SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC:

D- Causes of Disability:

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability The UNGA in 1948 proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 25 of the Declaration states that each person has "the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control".

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which came into force in 1966. The two Covenants develop and supplement the provisions of the Universal Declaration, and the three instruments together make up the International Bill of Human Rights.

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability -1950 - At Geneva Conference, the UN Secretariat, (ILO), (WHO), (UNESCO), (IRO) and (UNICEF), discussed together for the first time Persons with disabilities and rehabilitation, It was agreed on the need to establish international standards for the education, treatment, training and placement of persons with disabilities, with particular attention to be given to blind persons in developing countries.

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability -1970 - The ILO, UNESCO, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and the World Rehabilitation Fund designed a programme to increase funds for technical assistance in the rehabilitation field, and rehabilitation experts were assigned to locations throughout the world.

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability -1971 - On 20 December the General Assembly proclaimed the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons.

-1955 - 1970 - The focus of the United Nations on disability issues shifted in the late 1950s from a welfare perspective to one of social welfare

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability -1975 - In December the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, which states that all persons with disabilities are entitled to the rights stipulated, without respect to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, state of wealth, birth or any other situation.

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability 1976 - The General Assembly proclaimed 1981 as the International Year for Disabled Persons .

1981 International Year for Disabled Persons . International Symposium on Disabled Persons, in Tripoli, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. World Symposium of Experts on Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries and Technical Assistance in Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, 12 - 23 October in Vienna, Austria. World Conference on Actions and Strategies on Education, Disability Prevention, and Integration of Disabled Persons, Spain (held in cooperation with UNESCO).

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability -1982 - The General Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons. Disability policy was structured in three main areas: prevention, rehabilitation, and equalization of opportunities.It also proclaims 1983-1992 the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons.

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability -29 August 1984 - - Mr. Leandro Despouy from Argentina was appointed Special Rapporteur by the Sub-Commission on Human Rights, tasked with studying the causal connection between human rights violations, violations of fundamental freedoms, and disability.

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability -1992 - The end of the Decade of Disabled Persons was marked by the General Assembly with the establishment of the International Day of Disabled Persons on 3 December. -1993 - The Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities were adopted by the General Assembly

Highlights on the efforts of the United Nations on Disability -2001 - In December, Mexico proposes in the General Assembly to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to protect and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.-2006 On 13 December the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is adopted by the General Assembly.-2007 On 30 March the Convention and Optional Protocol opened for signature.

Highlights on the Efforts of the United Nations on Disability & ICT: Geneva Plan of Action, Action Line C2 Paragraph 9(e) on ICT infrastructure, requires national e-strategies to address the special requirements of persons with disabilities, using appropriate educational, administrative and legislative measures to ensure their full inclusion.

Highlights on the Efforts of the United Nations on Disability & ICT: The second WSIS phase produced the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society for implementation and follow-up special attention would be paid to the formulation of universal design concepts and the use of assistive technologies that promote access for all persons, including persons with disabilities

Highlights on the Efforts of the United Nations on Disability & ICT: In 2006 World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-06) was held in Doha, Qatar. During that conference, a new special global initiative was created on Access to Telecommunication Services for People with Disabilities..

V- Brief Examples from EMR Countries on their Efforts on Disability:The International Symposium on Disabled Persons, 27 September - 4 October, 1981 in Tripoli, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. Establishments of sport organizations for the disabled, The International Federation of the Blind and the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind came together in 1984 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to form the World Blind Union

V- Brief Examples from EMR Countries on their Efforts on Disability:Al-Manal monthly magazine that was founded in May 1987 by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services in the United Arab of Emirates. Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) approach. WHO supported this new approach through the set new definitions of disability. a social rather than an individual

V- Brief Examples from EMR Countries on their Efforts on Disability:The Arab League conducted many events under the council of ministers of social affairs and published many publications on Disability Most of the countries produced their nationals law on Disability.The Arab Organization of Disabled People was founded in 1998 in Cairo.Tehran International Conference on Aging, 21 Oct 1999 with support from UNDP.

V- Brief Examples from EMR Countries on their Efforts on Disability:The Arab League adopted - Arab Decade for the Disabled (2003-20012).Her Royal Highness Sheikha Hissa Khalifa A. Al-Thani from Qatar was appointed the UN Spcial Rapporteur on Disability. ,

Tehran International Conference on Aging, 21 Oct 1999 WI

Arab Parliamentary Symposium on Disability Legislation

Arab Parliamentary Symposiums on Disability Legislation:In Amman, Jordan, March 16-17, 2005.In Beirut, Lebanon, December 1-2, 2005,In Sana'a, Yemen, March 12-22, 2007.

VI- Coverage of ICT in different declarations and Legislations:1- First Introductory Steps:2- ICT in the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities:3- ICT in the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities:4- ICT in the national and regional declarations:

VII- Highlights on some ICT applications and Events to support persons with disabilities in EMR:1- Kuwait International Conference on the Role of People with Special Needs in Building the Information Society , 1-3May2006:3- Q-Tel company provide 50% Discount on Video Phone for the deaf.

http://www.escwa.org.lb/nfb(A specialized website for the blind end-users in the Arab countries. It is a part of the field project entitled: "Home Page Based On-Line Braille Documentation Center and Dissemination of Information about the Latest accessible Information & Communication Technologies for the blind users". /

Kuwait International Conference on the Role of People with Special Needs in Building the Information Society , 1-3May2006

Experience of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research:

Experience of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research: 2- For Persons with Blindness:

A- Bilingual Braille Printing Program;B- Key Board Training for the blind;C- Arabization of Braille Light.

Experience of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research: Deaf Dictionaries developed by Advanced Systems Department:

Kuwait Sign Language DictionaryUAE Deaf Sign Language DictionaryUnified Deaf Sign Language DictionaryPre-School Deaf Sign Language DictionaryArabic Scout Deaf Sign Language dictionary

Damascus School for The Blind,2006NGO-GO Partnership Project

Experience of Syrian Computer Society

Center of Computer Services for The Blind,Damascus University, Sept 16, 2007Private-Gov Partnership Project

Pakistan Disabled Foundation Collective Voice of Disabled Persons

Intellectual Disabilities in accordance with the First Arab Decade for people with Special Needs 2004-2013 HRH Princess Lalla Amina of Morocco

Intellectual Disabilities

Palestinian Women with Disability and ICTNovember 10, 2007

VIII. Conclusion

As ICT has rapidly advanced in all regions, this is why urgent actions must be taken to collect information about the actual use of ICT by the disabled.Investigations and surveys are required to determine the main obstacles hindering the use of ICT by persons with disability in countries of EMR including: national policy, human capacity development and e-government. the types of barriers including lack of funding, training, knowledge of the needs and opportunities and affordable ICT materials; high cost of ICT related equipment and assistive technologies; lack of organization with a fund to take its initiative; and no policy on ICT infrastructure.

Review and modify national legislations and declarations to ensure creating enabling environment and infrastructures.Establishment of task force between major stakeholders in the region including ITU, WHO and respective national and regional organizations to follow ICT and disability issues in the region.Encourage establishment of specialized NGOs and research centers on ICT and disability issues in the region.Awareness of decision makers must be raised on the potentials of ICT for persons with disabilities as well as their contributions.

Encourage and support pioneers persons with disability to promote and exchange their successful lessons.Establishment of specialized NGOs and research centers on ICT and disability issues in the region.The Private sector role is essential in most stages and partnerships should be urged.Integrating ICT in successful programs such as Community based Initiatives and CBR as ICT services may support and promote Crucial areas in CBR such as -Mainstreaming; Non-Governmental and Community Organizations capacity; Disabled People Organizations Capacity; Resources Allocation & Mobilization and Enhancement of Personnel Knowledge and Skills.

Changing our attitudes and the environment, instead of trying to change people with disabilities, must be our mission if we ever hope to create a society where everyone is valued and everyone belongs..