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People with disabilities should have a chance to use internet.
But some websites are not accessible: For example:
There will be a new European law about websites. The law will say that all government websites must be accessible. Governments of 28 countries now have to agree to this law. |
On 26 February, the European Parliament endorsed amendments to the proposal for a Directive on the accessibility of public sector bodies’ website put forward by the European Commission in December 2012.
The Parliament proposal widened the scope of the Directive to the general interest services provided online. Furthermore, it proposed the mechanisms which should control the implementation process, involving the main stakeholders in turning the legislation into practice. The legislation will improve the access of persons with disabilities to information sources online and encourage them to use new technologies in their daily lives as the changes will support more public website to become accessible.
The European Parliament recognised a need for enhancing inclusive e-policies in Amendment 6 stating: “At the same time, more efforts are needed for the effective implementation of the e-Inclusion policy, which aims to reduce gaps in information and communication technology (ICT) usage and to promote the use of ICT to overcome exclusion, and to improve economic performance, employment opportunities, quality of life, social participation and cohesion, including democratic consultations.”
The proposed directive will support the implementation of the EU flagship initiative ‘Digital Agenda for Europe’. “The Digital Agenda for Europe stresses that positive action to help persons with disabilities to access cultural content is key to the full enjoyment of Union citizenship and calls for full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Digital Access for persons with disabilities. The production of documents, such as reports, books and legislative acts, made available on public websites in such a way as to make them fully accessible, alongside the support for the private sector that has been called for with a view to encouraging investment in that area, could make a major contribution towards meeting that objective and promote the development of skills and service providers within the Union,” enshrines Amendment 12.
Inclusion Europe together with other civil society organisations welcomes the strengthened proposal adopted by the European Parliament. Inclusion Europe supports their call on the Member States and the Greek Presidency in the Council to endorse the Parliament’s position and start the negotiations as soon as possible.
You can read more about the statement of the European Disability Forum, Age Platform Europe and ANEC here.
