1. What is web accessibility? By Jojo I. Esposa Jr. Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf (MCCID) & Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG)

2. Good day Web Designers! Good day Web Designers! JOJO I. ESPOSA JR. - Teacher for the Deaf (MCCID) - Sign Language Interpreter - ICT Enthusiast - Web Designer/Developer (www.pwag.org) - Blogger (deafphilippines.wordpress.com) - Facebook Addict (www.facebook.com/jojoesposajr) - Advocate of “Information for ALL”

3. What is ICT? ICT stands for Information and Communications Technology Wikipedia defined it as a broad subject concerned with technology and other aspects of managing and processing information In other words, it means technology used to get the information needed

4. What is an Accessible ICT? Getting information without barrier Communicate information easier Promotes full and equal participation of everyone in social, economic and cultural life and in their exercise of civil and political rights Provides the flexibility to accommodate the needs and preferences of the widest range of users In other words “information for all”

5. How do people get information through the use of technology? Through media (TV, radio and print) Through telecommunications (telephones, cell phones, fax, etc.) Through Computers and the Internet

6. Consider these latest facts about the Philippines: 4 million telephones installed (2008) 78 million cell phone users in 2010 (Rank #14 worldwide and #6 in Asia beating Thailand and Malaysia). That’s 8 out of 10 persons have cell phone. (Wikipedia) Average of 600 text messages/month per mobile user in 2010, more than the annual average SMS volume of countries in Europe, US and even China. (Mashable)

7. Facts continued: 30 million Internet users by 2010 or 30% of population (Internet World Stats) 283,607 Internet Webhosts We are ranked #55 worldwide. (Wikipedia) 9 million Urban households own TV sets (AGB Nielsen) In January 22, 2006, ABS-CBN's broadcast of "Hataw Pacquiao, Laban ng Bayan" registered the biggest number of viewers of a TV event in Philippine history as AGB Nielsen Media Research showed that 2.073 million households (5.261 million individuals) watched the Pacquiao-Morales rematch (AGB Nielsen)

8. How did ICT change the lives of Filipinos? 4 million people use their cell phones as virtual wallets to buy things or transfer cash -- services still rare in many wealthy countries (CNN Article) Text messaging played a vital role in the ouster from office of most popular Philippine President in 2001 (PDInquirer) 89% of people surveyed believe that TV is the most trusted source of news and information (Pulse Asia) Sen. Villar’s uber-popular “Dagat ng Basura” TV ads did not do well in the polls. It was a probable case of over- exposure.

9. How do we categorize people who are deprived of information? People with no access to information People with limited access to information People with wrong access to information

10. How are those people deprived of information? Those not yet reached by TV and cellular phone signals; Those using slow or old computer models, lower screen resolutions and no Flash programs; Those who have limited use of PC (Latest DepEd data shows ratio of computers to elementary students is one computer per 25,000 students while in high school, it is one per 728 students.); (PD Inquirer) Those with no Internet or slow Internet (56kbps) connection; Those whose first language is NOT English;

11. What about those with disabilities? Disability shall mean; (1) physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more psychological or anatomical functions of an individual; (2) a records of such an impairment or; (3) being regarded as having such an impairment (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons RA 7277)

12. What about those with disabilities? Article 1 states that “persons with disabilities include those who have long- term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”. (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)

13. What are the access barriers of Persons With Disabilities on the Internet? Deaf persons cannot hear important news announcements on TV without closed captions and audio outputs on the Internet. [Example1, 2]Example12 Blind users cannot read Internet pages without a special program called screen readers, they also cannot read printed forms. Poor eyesight users need to control the size of texts. Color blind users cannot distinguish red from green, and blue from yellow.

14. What are the access barriers of PWDs on the Internet? Mobility impaired users cannot control their hands, thus cannot use the mouse. [Example]Example Dyslexic/dyscalculic users have difficulty grasping information and easily confused; [Example]Example Epileptic users need to avoid seeing flickering or flashing objects; [Example]Example Senior citizen users acquire disabilities as they progress their age and may be deprived of the same situation as others.

15. What’s in it for me? How many disabled people reads websites? How many senior citizens read websites? Am I liable, or can I be jailed or penalized if I don’t make my site accessible?

16. How many are PWDs in the Philippines? 942,098 PWD as per 2000 census (very old data)

17. UN Fast Facts about PWDs Around 10% of the world's population, or 650 million people, live with a disability. They are the world's largest minority. This figure is increasing through population growth, medical advances and the ageing process, says the World Health Organization (WHO). In countries with life expectancies over 70 years, individuals spend on average about 8 years, or 11.5% of their life span, living with disabilities. 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries (incl. Philippines)

18. UN Fast Facts about PWDs Disability rates are significantly higher among groups with lower educational attainment in the countries. On average, 19% of less educated people have disabilities, compared to 11% among the better educated. Women report higher incidents of disability than men. 20% of the world's poorest people have some kind of disability, and tend to be regarded in their own communities as the most disadvantaged. Women with disabilities are recognized to be multiple disadvantaged, experiencing exclusion on account of their gender and their disability.

19. UN Fast Facts about PWDs Women and girls with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to abuse. A small 2004 survey in Orissa, India, found that virtually all of the women and girls with disabilities were beaten at home, 25% of women with intellectual disabilities had been raped and 6 % of women with disabilities had been forcibly sterilized. 30% of street youths have some kind of disability. Mortality for children with disabilities may be as high as 80 per cent in countries where under-five mortality as a whole has decreased below 20%cases. It seems as if children are being "weeded out". Only 45 countries have anti-discrimination and other disability-specific laws.

20. “Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons” (RA 7277) – March 24, 1992 Section 4: Definition of Terms (a) It defines Disabled Persons as those suffering from restriction, as a result of a mental, physical or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being; (p) It also defines commerce as… communication among the provinces or between any foreign country or any territory or possession

21. TITLE THREE - PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST DISABLED PERSONS SECTION 36: Discrimination on the Use of Public Accommodations. – (a) No disabled persons shall be discriminated on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations… (2) A failure to make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures, when such modifications are necessary to afford such goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to individuals with disabilities... “Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons” (RA 7277) – March 24, 1992

22. Although it is not deliberately stated, using the Internet and accessing information from it can also be interpreted as a public service and falls under the assistive technologies. Since the World Wide Web is designed to be accessed by everyone (public accommodation), preventing others to use it by putting barriers can be a cause for discrimination. Penalty? 1st violation = P50T – P100T fine or 6 months – 2 years imprisonment “Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons” (RA 7277)

23. UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (UNCRPD) Fastest Treaty ever deliberated and adopted into law by the United Nations (4 years) It follows the Biwako Millennium Regional Framework for Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights- Based Society for PWDs in Asia and the Pacific (2002) Adopted into law by UN General Assembly on December 13,2006 Philippines is 27 th country that signed (9-25-2007) and ratified it (4-15-2008) As of 2010, 146 countries already signed with only 20 countries needed to have it adopted to all UN member countries. Philippines contributed significantly on Article 9 (Accessibility Provision)

24. Article 9 – Accessibility To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall… (g) Promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communications technologies and systems, including the Internet; (h) Promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost. UN CRPD Significance

25. Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG) Formed in 2006 out of series of regional workshops which started in 2003. Registered under SEC in 2007. Tasked to implement Manila ICT Design Recommendations and added Web Design Accessibility Recommendations (Maturity Stages) In tripartite with National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and National Computer Center (NCC-CICT) in drafting an Executive Order from Philippine President to evaluate, monitor and assist web accessibility compliance of all government websites in accordance with UNCRPD law Promote web accessibility in private websites.

26. What is accessibility? Providing flexibility to accommodate the user’s needs and preferences Flexibility Accommodation – reasonable Needs and preferences

27. What is web accessibility? “Web Accessibility” simply means making your web site accessible to anyone using the Internet. It also means the practice of making websites accessible by people of all abilities and disabilities.

28. What are accessible web sites? Designed to work with different devices and browsers like:  Popular browsers like FireFox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Apple Safari  Text-only browsers like Lynx  Assistive devices like Braille machines  Text-to-Speech browsers like pwWebSpeak  Screen Readers like Jaws, NVDA  Portable devices (laptops, netbooks, PDA, iPad and tablet PCs)  Cell phones (iPhone, smart phones, touch screens)

29. How do we benefit from making accessible web sites? 1) It reduces web site maintenance costs. 2) It can be easily converted to conform with other devices. 3) Your web site will be faster and more comfortable to use. 4) It will be compatible with any standards.

30. What are the business benefits of accessible web sites? 5) Your web site will appear higher in Google, Bing and Yahoo search. 6) Disabled people have spending powers, thus increased market. 7) Your web site can meet international legal requirements. 8) You will gain good publicity.

31. Can accessible ICT generate jobs for PWDs? Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities  ICT improves productivity  ICT is an industry  ICT is an enabler for Persons with Disabilities

32. What career opportunities can ICT give to PWDs? Graphics animation Call center operation Medical Transcriptions Data Entry Operations Computer Operations Computer repairs/servicing Software development Web page development

33. Quotable Quotes “But seriously folks, good relationships are built on good communication. There's no reason you should struggle to reach the ones you love.” - David Murray, Google product manager said after announcing the free use of Gmail this February 14. “The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.” -Tim Berners-Lee “I wish you and all our advocates the will and the resolve to find ways to equalize opportunities for persons with disabilities.” - Sir Leo Valdes message of encouragement to PWAG core group members

34. Maraming salamat po! “Web Accessibility is not only for people with disabilities but for all of us who are thankful that there are no barriers in using our abilities.”