Draft ECOWAS ICT Accessibility Policy (2018) v1 post Burkina Faso and Gambia Workshops
applications, and content provided to the public irrespective of the distribution,
delivery mechanism, platform or technology on which it is provided;
Member States shall put in place measures and strategies to ensure that there is
awareness of this policy. Awareness must be raised within the public, broadcasting
service provides, Electronic Programming Guide and program listing providers, platform
providers and disability groups all of whom must work together to publicize the
information and facilities available on television, radio and EPGs to assist disabled
people.
Where applicable, public information on e-Accessibility of broadcasting services should
using the following symbols to denote accessibility - subtitling (S), signing (SL) and audio
description (AD). These abbreviations should be explained in public communications
and should be explained in an appropriate part of the EPG.
Broadcasters in the region should, to the extent technically possible, deliver Closed
Captioning/ Subtitling, Sign language, and Audio Description which are services that will
benefit PWD and enable them to have access to broadcasting services. The use of open
standardised systems is encouraged. Furthermore, the use of local languages is
promoted. Government and Broadcasters should monitor the effectiveness of the service
through contact with organizations representing people with disabilities.
For viewers who are blind or have low vision, television programmes should be made
accessible through the provision of audio description/dubbing in an official language of
the country. The language of the AD should be the same as the program audio. For
countries that use subtitling rather than dubbing when offering television programmes in
foreign languages, viewers who are blind or have low vision, as well as individuals with
cognitive impairments or those who have a low reading speed can benefit from audio
subtitles.
Given that signing is different from one country or region to another, in the same way
that oral languages and dialects differ. In bi- or multilingual countries, open signing
represents a challenge. Any open sign language requirements, must be subject to public
consultation to devise a mechanism to provide signing in a manner that meets the needs
of the public.
Providers of broadcasting equipment must ensure that viewers who are deaf or hard-ofhearing who use hearing aids, will able to hear the programme aided by the use of
wireless connections between the television receiver and the hearing aid itself, or, wired
connections between the TV receiver and an assistive listening device that a consumer
chooses.
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