Annexure-A – Table of ICT Accessibility policies around the world Country Name Details of Policies URL Applicability 1. AUSTRALIA Legislation + Advisory Notes Disability Discrimination Act, 1992 World Wide Web Access: Disability Discrimination Act Advisory Notes Guide to Minimum Website Standards, 2000, Revised April 2003 Better Practice Guide: Internet Delivery Decisions Maguire v. Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (2000) General laws preventing discrimination on grounds of disability. Advisory Notes on Web Accessibility – includes both Government and Private Websites. 2. CANADA Legislation + Task Force+ Government Support and liaison with industry The Employment Equity Act Task Force on Access to Information for Print-Disabled Canadians The Canadian Human Rights Act Communications Policy of the Government of Canada Assistive Devices Industry Office (ADIO) Human Rights Legislations and Web Accessibility Standards applicable to only government departments, ministries and agencies but NOT private organizations. Continuous process improvement and monitoring in place. 3. GERMANY Advanced Legislative Measures Act on Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons (Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz – Advanced model with legislations covering both web and other electronic infrastructure.
BGG) Federal Ordinance on Barrier-Free Information Technology Continuous process improvement and monitoring in place. Special measures to facilitate the effective implementation of equal rights for women with disabilities. 4. IRELAND Legislation + Independent State Body The Employment Equality Act (1998) The Equal Status Act (2000, 2004) The Disability Act (2005) NDA Code of Practice No specific law covering web accessibility. General Laws for equality and prevention of discrimination. Web Accessibility Guidelines is not mandatory even for public sector. The National Disability Authority is the independent state body providing expert advice on disability policy and promoting Universal Design in Ireland.
5. ITALY Legislation and Decree Law 4/2004, January 9th 2004 (“Stanca Law”): “Provisions to support the access of the disabled to information technologies Decree of the President of the Republic, March 1st 2005, No. 75 - “Enforcement Regulations for Law 4/2004 to promote the access of the disabled to information technologies Ministerial Decree, July 8th 2005 - “Technical Rules of Law 4/2004 Italian law 67/2006 “Provisions for the judicial protection of persons with disabilities, victims of discrimination Web accessibility. General laws for equality and prevention of discrimination. Both public and private agencies fall within the ambit of the law. , The National Centre for ICT in Public Administration monitors the implementation of policies. 6. JAPAN Accessibility Policies Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) X 8341 New IT Reform Strategy , No specific legislation around accessibility but accessibility policies for both web and other electronic infrastructure in the form of industrial standards. No law to enforce implementation. 7. KOREA Legislation and Government bodies The 2007 Korea Disability Discrimination Act The Ministry of Public Administration and Security and the
National Informatization Act National Implementation Society Agents have been championing the cause of web accessibility since 2005. Web accessibility Guidelines. General laws for equality and prevention of discrimination. 8. NEW ZEALAND Legislation and Cabinet directives, as well as international obligations NZ Government Web Standards and Recommendations v2.0 New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 Human Rights Act 1993 Web Accessibility Standards and Guidelines. General laws for equality and human rights. 9. PHILLIPINES No legislation or policy addressing web accessibility. Manila Declaration on Accessible ICT and Manila Accessible ICT Design recommendation The Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG) Web Accessibility. 10. PORTUGAL Web accessibility guidelines for public websites. No specific legislation. Accessibility of Public Administration Websites for Citizens with Special Needs (Resolution of the Council of Ministers Nº 97/99) Other measures Web Accessibility. Has passed a resolution in parliament on accessibility.
“social categories with special needs.” services 3. IRELAND Designated USP EU Universal Service Directive Braille billing Accessible pay phones National relay service Provision for assistive technologies to use with telecommunication devices EU Directive: Legislation Summary: Ireland telecom’s Code of Practice with Provisions: 4. ITALY Designated USP EU Universal Service Directive Priority assistance and repair 90 hours of free internet usage/50 percent reduction for visually impaired users Accessible pay phone facilities Discounts/ exceptions on monthly phone bills EU Directive: Legislation Summary: 5. INDIA US /Selection of USP by Indian Act 2003 Affordable access to all people in rural areas-interpreted to include special schemes for the Pilot Projects for: provision of Accessible telecommunications infrastructure (mobile Legislation: Schemes under the USOF: “USOF’s Pilot Project Scheme
Directive information about universal services 9. MALAYSIA setup/USP selection Identifies persons with disability as an underserved community/group “Klang Valley Broadband Push 90” aims at 90 per cent household broadband penetration in the Klang Valley by 2010. It targets public institutions, schools, libraries, communities within particular municipalities and disabled communities within Klang Valley. Internet access facilities to disabled entrepreneurs. Legislation: Communication and Multimedia Act, Universal Service Provision and Policy in Malaysia: 10. NEW ZEALAND USO instruments Deed for Telecommunications Relay Services Text Relay and Video Relay Service Centres Telecommunication Act, 2001: New Zealand Relay: TSO Deed: 11. PAKISTAN setup/USP selected through bidding $6.1million project for digitalization of Audio World Library and expanding assessable internet café at PFFB Islamabad Legislation: Pakistan Telecommunication (Amendment) Act, 2006: Project with Al Shifa Eye Trust: Project With Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness:
Support to strengthen the Low vision center at Rawalpindi hospital to make it a comprehensive Low Vision Unit of the country 12. POLAND Designated USP EU Universal Service directive Services for persons with disabilities as part of USO under Telecommunications Law of 2004 Terminal equipment adapted to meet the needs of persons with disabilities Accessible pay phone facilities Telecommunications Law, 2004: EU Directive: Legislation Summary: 13. PORTUGAL Designated USP EU Universal Service directive Provision of special pricing for disabled users and accessible pay phones under Decree-Law no. 458/99 Billing in accessible formats Information about accessible services Measures to be taken to make emergency services accessible Voluntary subsidy on telephone charges for hearing impaired users Text Relay Services Decree Law 458/99: EU Directive: Legislation Summary: 14. SLOVAK REPUBLIC Designated USP EU Universal Service directive Access to public telephone services for persons with disabilities as part of USO under Act 610 on Electronic Free directory enquiry Round the clock technical support Accessible payphone facilities with 25 per cent of total payphones to be marked and be accessible to hearing impaired. Electronic Communications Act, 2011: EU Directive: Measure laying down
Communications 2003 provisions for public payphones for users with health disabilities: 15. SLOVENIA Designated USP EU Universal Service Directive Accessibility for persons with disabilities as part of USO under Law on Electronic Communications Priority service and repair Accessible information about available Information about call costs, remaining balance on prepaid etc through voice messages for visually impaired users. Special number for assistance for visually impaired users 50 per cent discount for setting up a fixed line connection for eligible persons with disabilities services 5 per cent discount on monthly charges on fixed telephone services for eligible persons with disabilities EU Directive: Law on Electronic Communication: Universal Service Policy: 16. SWEDEN No formal structure or USP EU directive/ programmes under national disability policy Specialist terminal equipment accessible billing systems information and emergency services funding for projects for innovative communication solutions relay services Electronic Telecommunication Act: EU Directive: Policies and projects: 17. THAILAND setup Telecommunications Business Act, 2001 Monthly 30-minute phone card for persons with disabilities Relay Service Legislation: 18. UNITED Designated EU Universal Service Text relay service EU Directive: