European Disability Forum and Microsoft Team up to Enhance Accessibility

Accessibility is high on the European agenda as the European Union and 24 out of the 27 EU Member States have ratified the United-Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which states that persons with disabilities have the rights to access the digital environment to the same extent as anyone else. The European Digital Agenda and the European Disability Strategy 2010-20 have announced the presentation of a European Accessibility Act and of proposal for legislation covering access to public sector websites and websites delivering basic services to citizens.

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In this context, Microsoft and EDF support the plan of the European Commission to deliver an inclusive web environment that can be used by all Internet users including persons with disabilities. We also believe that discussion forum where both users and ICT companies discuss accessibility issues is a key component for an accessible web.

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During the early days of personal computing, people with disabilities couldn?t access the Internet or were only able to access limited information. Robert Sinclair, Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft Corporation, mentioned that for people with disabilities accessibility provides the opportunity to participate in activities that many of us take for granted. Microsoft is working with industry to lead an effort to create a clearly defined professional society related to accessibility that defines necessary skills and a network that allows for the exchange of best practices and knowledge. The society could develop and administer one or more professional accessibility certifications and offer continuing education to help individuals maintain their expertise as the field evolves, improving accessibility of IT for people with disabilities. More information is available on the Microsoft blog.

Source: http://www.daisy.org/node/18707

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