[WSIS CS-Plenary] Workshop on Accessibility standards development and UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Rio, 12 November 2007

[Hiroshi Kawamura]

Announcement:

Accessibility standards development and UN Convention on the Rights of 
Persons with Disabilities

Short Description:
The thematic workshop on "Web Accessibility Guidelines Development and UN 
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" is designed to 
revisit internet accessibility guidelines and standards to meet the 
requirements of persons with disabilities in the light of the first human 
rights convention of the UN adopted in 21st Century to enrich the discussion 
of the main sessions on Diversity.
Based on the Global Forum on Disability in the Information Society held in 
both WSIS in Geneva and Tunis, the workshop invites Mr. Buntan, President of 
Thailand Association of the Blind, who worked for the UN Convention on the 
Rights of Persons with Disabilities and WSIS process in collaboration with 
all those concerned around the world including Ms. Bieler, Director of the 
Inter-American Institute on Disability, and Ms. Caras, President of People 
Who. Those three speakers will address the requirements for the Internet 
Governance to comply with the Convention and WSIS Plan of Actions from the 
view point of persons with disabilities. Mr. Abou-Zahra, W3C web 
accessibility expert will talk about harmonization of web accessibility 
standards and W3C Web Accessibility Initiatives with special reference to 
best practices on national web accessibility guidelines development. Mr. 
Shore, Autism Society of America, and Ms. Osorno, National Association of 
the Deaf of Colombia, will address further challenges for the development of 
accessibility standards. The modertor will encourage interactive discussion 
for brain storming to generate a real multi-stakeholder participation. 
Practical approaches for the internet governance to promote Universal Design 
and Assistive Technologies will be the key focus.

When and where:
November 12th 15:00-16:30 at Windsor Barra Hotel (Alhambra II)

Organizers:
Hiroshi Kawamura, President, DAISY Consortium
Judy Brewer, Director, Web Accessibility Initiative, W3C
Margita Lundman, Program Director, The Swedish Handicap Institute
George Kerscher, Secretary General, DAISY Consortium
Stephen Shore, Board, Autism Society of America
Shadi Abou-Zahra, Web Accessibility Specialist, W3C
Phill Jenkins, Accessibility Program Manager, IBM
Deborah Kaplan, Deborah Kaplan Consulting
Monthian Buntan, President, Thailand Association of the Blind
Mary Frances Laughton, Director, Assistive Devices Industry Office, Canada

Panellists:
Monthian Buntan, President, Thailand Assoication of the Blind
Shadi Abou-Zahra, Web Accessibility Specialist, W3C
Stephen Shore, Board, Autism Society of America
Rosangela Berman Bieler, Director, Inter-American Institute on Disability
Martha Lucia Osorno Posada, Board, World Federation of the Deaf
Sylvia Caras, President, People Who
Moderator: Hiroshi Kawamura, President, DAISY Consortium

Aditional Information:
Colombian Sign Language interpretation will be provided during the workshop.

For further information, please contact Hiroshi Kawamura, 
hkawa at attglobal.net