Draft ECOWAS ICT Accessibility Policy (2018) v1 post Burkina Faso and Gambia Workshops
(d) Support from providers of ICT services through access to customer
services which understand and address the specific needs of PwD.
(e) Affordable ICT services which can be achieved through general measures to
lower the cost of communications, and additionally through the offering of
specialized products and discounted tariff plans that are structured in a way that
recognise the ways that PwD use services – for example, text-only mobile
communications packages for deaf or hearing impaired users.
6. STRATEGIES
To implement harmonized ICT accessibility policies and programmes for PWDs,
Member States undertake to adopt and implement the following strategies:
(1) Identify key steps that can be taken quickly to promote ICT accessibility, such
as ensuring accessible devices (such as public and mobile phones) are
commercially available.
(2) Raise awareness-raising among key stakeholders by promoting ICT
accessibility through public outreach programmes, working with the industry to
develop universally designed products and gathering and publishing reports on
developments with respect to ICT accessibility.
(3) Support collaborative efforts through the promotion of Public Private
Partnerships, encouraging the use of universal service fund subsidies and
promoting other partnerships to stimulate research and development in the
industry for example voice recognition and text-to-speech interfaces in local
languages – to ensure local relevance and uptake.
(4) Promote the conducting of baseline research, the setting of clear targets,
and periodic monitoring and evaluation by ensuring that there is clear
delegation of responsibility, including identifying who is responsible for what
aspects of the promotion of e-accessibility.
(5) Encourage training, capacity building and educational programmes on
disability awareness for ICT operators, service providers, retailers, government
officials and disabled persons organizations.
(6) Promote the linkage between ICT accessibility and education to encourage
the uptake of ICTs by children with disabilities, and to encourage the use of
accessible ICTs in the education system.
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