1. Building Inclusive Knowledge Societies Session organized by the UNCT in India and other UN entities

2. Human Need sand Rights Knowledge Societies Cultural & Linguistic Diversity Education for All Access to Information & Knowledge Freedom of Expression CreationDisseminationAccessPreservation Pluralism Inclusion Diversity Openness Participation Information Knowledge Human NeedsHuman Rights Wisdom The UNESCO Approach

3. Human Need sand Rights Scope and Range of Interventions UNCRPD (2006) o UNESCO promotes the awareness and implementation of the UNCRPD. India among the first signatories to the UNCRPD in 2007. o Focus on policy development and development / use of ICTs. Activities o Working with Governments to strengthen national policies; to help introduce specific legislation to protect PWDs’ rights; and to help define service goals for PWDs. o Working with stakeholder groups to promote effective utilization of ICTs for and by PWDs (including customization of digital media) o Offering technical expertise and knowledge support though specialized reports. o Sharing good practices (at national, regional and global levels)

4. Human Need sand Rights The Indian Context: Two Sets of Challenges PolicyICTs 1Existing Acts for empowering PWDs should complement each other in a clear and coherent manner Mapping of ATs by sector and type of disability – identification of gaps and opportunities 2Mechanisms to enforce provisions of relevant Acts and prerequisites for compliance should be in place Address gaps pertaining to tools for access and availability of content 3Capacity building of PWDs should be built into the policy framework Provide users, technologists, manufacturers and service providers a platform that allows (1) an understanding of the needs of PWDs; (2) the co- planning and co-design of devices / ICTs; (3) Usability tests and feedback from PWDs 4Greater synergy between relevant Departments and Ministries at state and central levels Lowering the cost of ATs and ICT-enabled services for PWDs 5Close gaps between policy formulation and implementation Strengthen the policy base for promoting ICTs for PWDs

5. The National Conference and Exhibition ‘ICTs for Persons with Disabilities: Taking Stock and Identifying Opportunities’ (Sep 2014) o Partnership with Ministry of Communications and IT and Open Knowledge Community o Stock-taking: India’s achievements and challenges – ICT-related policy formulation and implementation, innovation, content development, and provision of access for PWDs o Roundtables (experts, users, consumers, PWDs) o Knowledge Mall: Exhibition of existing and emerging tech solutions for PWDs (Exhibitors: Govt bodies, private sector, CSOs) o Interactive review forum: Manufacturers, technologists and users critically review existing technologies / solutions (Structured feedback) Participants o Government, CSOs, IT industry, UN agencies, research and academic institutions, information and media professionals, students (HE)

6. Focus Areas Aspirations of Youth ICTs for Inclusive K-12 Education ICTs for Inclusive Higher Education (HE) Web Access and Compliance with Web Accessibility Standards Gaps in educational / training facilities for PWDs; Access to study material and job opportunities; Reviewing the National Youth Policy Gaps: Availability and use of ICTs in schools; Access: Delivery mechanisms; Quality: Content design, teacher sensitization and capacity building; Compliance: M&E Barriers to opportunities for HE; ICT-enabled dissemination of / access to content; Staff training and sensitization; Support systems for using ICTs in HE. capacity building; Compliance: M&E Accessibility and compliance of Govt websites offering e-services; corrective actions; using cost-effective open source tools to enable accessibility; language exclusion as a barrier to online access capacity building; Compliance: M&E

7. Focus Areas Employment and Professional Growth for PWDs in an ICT- enabled Economy ICT-enabled Participation of PWDs in Arts and Cultural Life Findings from the Knowledge Mall: Review and Analysis Promoting jobs for persons with specialized skills; Linking PWDs to livelihood info and job openings; ICT support for PWDs at the workplace; Skill development, training and certification of PWDs in the ITES sector Access to cultural institutions, heritage sites and museums; Available ICTs and proposed development of infrastructure / ATs to allow access for PWDs Interactive forum for stakeholders to jointly examine whether available technologies meet the needs of PWDs; and to discuss how they might be developed further to enhance their utility

8. Outcomes: Work in Progress Community of Practice (OKC Knowledge Platform) National Compendium of Assistive Technologies Tech Lab: Demos, User Feedback, Products in Action Core Committee: Access to Culture and the Arts Films for Advocacy Fund for Assistive Technologies State of the Nation Report: ICTs for Persons with Disabilities

9. Thank You 24 November 2014