Introduction to EU Policy Environment People with Disabilities as Market Participants and Expanding Accessible ICT Markets Robert Huffaker Early Stage Researcher 25/11/2011

Overview  Technosite introduction  Purpose of research  Research questions to be pursued  Methodology & timeline  Anticipated problems, issues and research barriers  Six Month Secondment WP 2.4 Building the Business Case for eAccessibility

Technosite  National Organisation of the Spanish Blind Foundation  Horizontal ICT accessibility consultancy, research, development and innovation.  Leading several EU projects, networks and studies concerning accessibility: Cloud4all Apsis4all Atis4all Economic assesment of eAccessibility (072) Monitoring eAccessibility (066) WP 2.4 Building the Business Case for eAccessibility

Purpose of research  Explore EU disability law/policy reform options via UNCRPD  Emphasize the significance of social inclusion & accessibility  Research eAccessibility’s “Business Case”  Explore market potential for the ICT sector to grow its global reach provided its products and services become accessible WP 2.4 Building the Business Case for eAccessibility

Research questions  What are the: – main ICT obstacles & opportunities faced by PwD? –accessibility and usability issues? –training needs of disabled users in accessing these services?  How can accessibility & usability issues be resolved to foster compliance?  What are the implications of industry-standard developments and legal legislation on ensuring eAccessibility? WP 2.4 Building the Business Case for eAccessibility

Research questions  How is the Business Case of eAccessibility currently being accepted?  What are the existing good practice models?  Where are the savings or expenditures of firms investing in eAccessible goods and services?  What can main stake holders do? WP 2.4 Building the Business Case for eAccessibility

Methodology & timeline Search & analysis sources  Macroeconomic  Microeconomic  Statistical Strategic analysis  Drivers  Effects  Stakeholders Cost-benefit analysis (CBA)  Derived from accessible technologies Development of economic data  Combine existing statistics for CBA Preparing  Recommendations: Legislative, economic and business model Interaction with other researchers WP 2.4 Building the Business Case for eAccessibility

Anticipated research barriers  Scarcity of data and indicators on the impact of accessible ICT for PwD in daily life like:  education  employment  recreation  Multiple use of languages in gathering data  Ensuring web accessibility from scratch vs. redesign?  Is it possible to isolate web accessibility cost from the whole web development cost? WP 2.4 Building the Business Case for eAccessibility

Six Month Secondment  Trade association for the European ICT sector  Network-wide events on eAccessiblity from the private sector perspective WP 2.4 Building the Business Case for eAccessibility

THANK YOU! Robert Huffaker Early Stage Researcher (Technosite)