1. 2016 Internet Governance Forum – PALCCO, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico December 6th to December 9th "The Goal of Accessibility as Sustainable Criteria for Public Procurement" Presented by Mr. Gerry Ellis   2 1

2. Global Economics of Disability
Fifth Quadrant Analytics
Global Economics of Disability Report, 2013
1.3 Billion Persons with Disability globally
Friends and Family add a further 2.2 Billion
Control over 8 Trillion Dollars of Disposable Income annually 2

3. European Economics of Disability
European Disability Forum
80 Million Persons with Disabilities
Increasing because of a greying Population
80% of Disabilities are acquired during life rather than at birth
European Commission's Public Procurement Strategy
Public Spending on Goods, Works and Services add up to 14% of EU GDP 3

4. European EN Standard
European Standard on Public Procurement of Accessible ICT products and services
Published by European Standards Bodies CEN, CENELEC and ETSI
Complemented by 3 Technical Reports
Promotes Interoperability of Products and Services across Country Borders within Europe
Australia has adopted it verbatim
Mexico is considering adopting it verbatim 4

5. U.S. Section 508
Specifies Federal Requirements for the Acquisition of Accessible Electronic and Information Technology
Promotes Interoperability of Products and Services across State Borders
A "Buy Accessible" Wizard supports Federal Public Bodies to Comply with Section 508
Section 508 is being Revised
Final rule on Accessibility of ICT sent to Office of Management and Budget on October 24th for Review 5

6. Strengths & Weaknesses
Both have Strengths and Weaknesses
Interoperable within their own spheres of Influence
Neither Interoperable across Continents
Neither Enforceable on non-Public Bodies unless Supplying products or Services to Public Bodies
Differences between USA and European Markets Cause problems for Industry
EN Problems with the likes of Real Time Text
Old Section 508 out of Date 6

7. Solution Each Alone is Better than None at all
A Harmonised Hybrid could take the Best of Both and Eliminate the Weaknesses
This would be Better than Either One of them Alone
Persons with Disabilities, Industry and Society all Gain 7

8. References Global Economics of Disability Report, 2013
European Disability Forum
European Commission Public Procurement Strategy
European Standard EN
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act 8

9. Thank you Mr Gerard Ellis gerry.ellis@feelthebenefit.com9