The importance of ICT in achieving development goals is widely shared as articulated in the UN Summit in 2005. The Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development (GAID), an initiative approved by the United Nations Secretary-General, was launched after worldwide consultations. The Alliance seeks to contribute to mainstreaming of the global ICT agenda into the broader development agenda and raising awareness of policy makers.
However, as the digital domain expands, ICT could become a main dividing line between individuals, as well as nations, creating an information gap. Lessons from developing countries show that social inclusion, equal opportunities, and mainstreaming are keys to maximizing the gradual incorporation of ICT in developing countries. ICT strategy should take into consideration usability for all to maximize the impact.
Universal design of ICT seeks to ensure maximum flexibility and benefits to the maximum number of users of products. In case of ICT, however, designing for the “broader average” may not always accommodate the needs of people with severe disabilities or very particular user requirements. Therefore, accessible ICT can also be achieved by designing products compatible with the technical aids used by many people. This will often benefit people without disabilities as well (see Box 6). Products and services should be designed to be accessible to the largest possible number of people, avoiding situations in which technological advances create new barriers.
There are several international consortia promoting accessible ICT. For example, the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict) is one of the flagship advocacy initiatives of GAID. G3ict was formed to facilitate a multi-stakeholder dialogue on ICT accessibility issues and develop a knowledge base and best practices sharing platforms in matters of accessible and assistive ICT. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is another international consortium with the aim of leading the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing protocols and guidelines.
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