The Business Value of

Accessibility: Challenges &

Opportunities .

The European Accessibility Forum

Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo

Senior Operations Officer

The World Bank.

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

Background

The architectural design field learned a long time

ago that the benefits of universal design extend

beyond people with disabilities.

In today’s knowledge economy accessibility of

ICT is paired with the physical accessibility.

Access to the physical environment and to

Information Technology is instrumental for the

enjoyment of many human rights and good for

business.

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

Business Value of ICT Accessibility

Social Factors - In many countries the technology is being used for government information and services, education and training, commerce, news, workplace interaction, civic participation, health care, recreation, entertainment, and more.

Corporate Responsibility – accessibility affects organization's employees, stockholders and board members, suppliers and vendors, partners and collaborators, customers, and others

Accessibility provides improved access, and thus can increase social inclusion, for other groups of people that are often a focus of corporate social responsibility.

Improves the Banks ability to do business with Developing Countries, Governments, etc. if the information is accessible.

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

At the Bank

Web Governance Strategy in process– Web Accessibility is a core component of the strategy

– Adoption of W3C guidelines –

This strategy ensures that people with disabilities, people who are aging, people with low bandwidth, low literacy will have access to the information on the Banks websites.

The Bank aims to insert accessibility into the fabric of the way it does business. – Within the internal policies and procedures to support staff,

within the operations programs, within employment diversity.

– Every unit within the Bank has a responsibility to address accessibility at some level.

– Whether it is our IT department, our facilities, our employment practices everyone owns accessibility.

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

Bank Commitment to

accessibility

Around 6% of investment projects mention

disability

Adoption of a web accessibility policy

Public Information Center IT Accessibility

Project

ISG’s Accessibility Program

Disability Accommodation Fund

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

What are our main

initiatives/investments?

Creating and maintaining an IT infrastructure

that is accessible

Extend the effects of development programs to a

larger number of beneficiaries including persons

with disabilities, seniors and other vulnerable

groups.

People, with or without disabilities, embrace and

use an environment that is universally designed

to make life easier.

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

The International Benchmark

Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities

Art. 4 General Obligations

Art. 9 Accessibility

Art. 21 Freedom of expression, opinion

and access to information

Art. 32 International Cooperation

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

What is the Role of Accessible ICT

in inclusive development?Accessible ICT for people with disabilities can play a crucial role for the inclusion of disability in the development agenda;

Proper communication is needed to raise awareness on disability, which is too often perceived as merely a health issue, approached with pity, stigma and basically unknown to the public at large;

ICT that is democratized will contribute to narrowing the digital divide and can be used to fight stigma and prejudice with the goal of true social inclusion.

This can be part of including disability concerns within the realm of civil society.

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

Some opportunities

The power of ICT to make connections can mitigate against the social isolation of persons with disabilities in most societies.

ICTs can provide access to information, services, and economic opportunities

Mastery of technology may improve self-confidence and enhance social standing

The demonstrated value of ICT often provides yet another incentive for literacy and education.

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

Some challenges

Because of their connective power, ICTs may be regarded with special suspicion in societies where people with disabilities are traditional excluded and without a voice.

Most ICT interfaces require literacy in a major language as the point of entry

The cost of ICT

In a knowledge based economy the economic and social significance to information is increasing rapidly.

People with disabilities without access to ICTs may find themselves on the wrong side of a widening ‘opportunity gap’- the other side of the digital divide.

Is makes business sense.

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

ICT and disability and the link to e-

government

E-government requires – Access (telecommunications, & multi-channel service

delivery infrastructure),

– Demand (digital literacy, capacity building, affordability, relevant content in local language) and

– Participation (multi-stakeholder consultations and partnerships)

Governments pursuing this proactively – Bridging the digital divide (haves and have nots)

– E-Inclusion

– E-government for all

C.V. McClain-Nhlapo

Conclusion

ICT can increase access to opportunities

and participation, and in so doing can open

the world up to 650 million people.

Furthermore the entire community can

benefit from accessible ICT as people can

be permanently or temporarily disabled.

Everyone owns accessibility.