Yesterday was Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). It’s a day dedicated to raising awareness of digital access and inclusion for the world’s one billion people with disabilities and impairments. It is observed every year on the third Thursday in May.
GSMA and Facebook organised a virtual industry discussion with panellists from DeafTawk (Pakistan), a2i (Bangladesh), Dialog Axiata (Sri Lanka), and G3ict to commemorate GAAD’s tenth anniversary and encourage future cooperation on disabilities inclusion in South Asia.
Due to a lack of access to opportunities and services, people with disabilities are frequently excluded and marginalised in society. Assistive technologies (ATs) are equipment (hardware or software) and services that help people with impairments get around more easily. Every person with a disability has the right to affordable ATs, according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). ATs are critical in assisting people with disabilities in overcoming some of the physical and social limitations that come with their condition.
According to the hosts’ official statement, APAC has an estimated 690 million people with disabilities, and sadly, ATs are still mainly unavailable to them. To reach this underserved demographic, action is needed to address the hurdles and needs of people with disabilities, encourage innovation, and put them at the centre of the design process.
“Removing the barriers experienced by persons with disabilities demands informed action from all stakeholders,” Michael Nique, Senior Director, GSMA Assistive Technology, said during the event. In the digital and mobile industries, for example, accessibility demands and methodologies must be considered early on, and the number of people with disabilities involved in the development and testing process must expand. We can effect genuine change and promote inclusion in an increasingly digital environment if we do so.”
All panellists at the webinar agreed that digital advances might help people with impairments gain access to ATs and promote inclusiveness. According to the GSMA Intelligence Survey 2019, 41% of people with disabilities in Bangladesh own a mobile phone, with 55% saying it assists them with everyday work, 67% saying it offers them a sense of security, and 53% saying it provides easy access to important information.
The panellists also talked on how the current global health crisis has created enormous obstacles for people with disabilities, but it has also resulted in accessible improvements.
Monica Desai, Facebook’s Global Head of Connectivity and Access Policy, discussed the company’s latest actions and developments in this area, including the GAAD pledge made last year and the pledge to make the React Native open source framework fully accessible.
Furthermore, Facebook improved Automatic Alt Text (AAT) earlier this year, which reflects many technological advancements that improve the photo experience for Facebook users. This version set a new industry standard by allowing information about the geographical placement and relative size of items in a photo to be included.
“At Facebook, we believe that access is an opportunity, and that everyone benefits when everyone is connected. Our goal is for everybody, regardless of ability, to be able to access the information and connections that occur on Facebook. “We are excited to continue expanding accessibility and forming partnerships to advance inclusion for people with disabilities throughout South Asia and around the world,” Desai added.
Source: Mashable
