Access For All

The aim of the study “Internal market for inclusive and assistive ICT, targeted market analysis and legislative aspects” was to examine the main barriers and opportunities today in the European Internal Market for assistive ICT and look at what could be gained from addressing these.
The study has assessed the different models existing in nine Member States for the provision of assistive ICT to people with a disability, analysed the demand- and supply side of the market and conducted a number of case studies. The study puts forward a number of scenarios, conclusions and recommendations for the achievement of the European Internal Market for assistive ICT that supports the digital inclusion of people with a disability.

Download the final report (September 2011).

On 19-20 April 2012, Copenhagen (Denmark) will host the “IT Innovation Camp on social media and ICT for people with disabilities”. The aim is to share knowledge, develop ideas and transform early-stage concepts into prototypes in under 48 hours.
The camp will bring together IT companies, developers, researchers, designers, practitioners and students.
The camp is an initiative by Socialt Udviklingscenter SUS in Denmark.

CEN, CENELEC and ETSI are organising a 2nd open workshop on “European Accessibility requirements in public procurement of ICT products and services” to be held in Brussels on 28 October 2011. This is the second of a series of three workshops that give stakeholders an opportunity to learn about the work, to discuss the latest drafts of the standards and reports and to give feedback about the work being done.
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Palentype and sign language can be made available upon request.
Source: http://www.mandate376.eu/

CEN, CENELEC and ETSI are organising a 2nd open workshop on “European Accessibility requirements in public procurement of ICT products and services” to be held in Brussels on 28 October 2011. This is the second of a series of three workshops that give stakeholders an opportunity to learn about the work, to discuss the latest drafts of the standards and reports and to give feedback about the work being done.
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Palentype and sign language can be made available upon request. To register please send an email to Ms. Franoise Wanson (fwanson@cencenelec.eu), by the 21st of October, indicating name, company and if special assistance is required.”

The third annual Moscow Government International Conference, the title of which was “Equal rights – equal opportunities. Universal Design: New concepts and best sampling projects¨, took place on 30 June and 1 July 2011.
The conference featured sessions discussing the accessibility of transport infrastructure and the built environment, including talks about incorporating universal design into the development of products and services, retrofitting historic buildings and implementing accessible housing. Other topics included facilitating access to sports and physical training, accessible tourism, inclusive education, adapting exhibitions for visually impaired visitors and the accessibility of information and communications technology.
Among the speakers at the conference were Valerie Fletcher, Executive Director of the Institute for Human Centered Design, Mikhail Terentiev, Secretary General of the Russian Paralympic Committee, Andrey Efimov, of Moscow Architectural Institute and Francesc Aragall, President of the Design for All Foundation.

For further information, visit the Integration.Life.Society website

The Urbaccess conference on assistive technologies, accessible transport, mobility and urban environment takes place in Paris, France on 19-20 January 2012.
More information at the event website.