EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND ACCURATE INFORMATION CAN
ACCELERATE THE EMERGING GLOBAL ACCESSIBILITY MARKETPLACE
Presenter(s)
Ken Salaets
Access Star/ITI
1250 Eye St. NW
Day Phone: 202-626-5752
Email: kensalaets@itic.org
By creating an Internet portal dedicated to providing timely, credible
information on accessibility trends, technology and market requirements,
government policy makers, businesses and consumers can communicate and
collaborate more effectively to help advance the development of accessibility
technology and services.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Disabilities do not recognize borders. A person who is blind in
How do we motivate governments to work together to create a common,
streamlined policy framework? How do we motivate manufacturers to make the
necessary investments to increase the accessibility and usability of hardware,
software and Internet content? Of equal importance, how do we do all of this as
rapidly and inexpensively as possible? The answer: create a single web portal
with a global focus that can serve as a platform to facilitate cooperation and
collaboration between all key stakeholders: government, industry and consumers.
THE RESPONSE
The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) is committed to promoting
a harmonized, market-driven global response to meeting the needs of people with
disabilities and age-related limitations. To help advance this goal, we have
developed an Internet portal, ACCESS STAR, to serve as the premier global
resource for reliable information on accessibility trends, technology and
market requirements.
By highlighting innovation and best practices, we believe ACCESS STAR can
serve as a catalyst for growing the global market for quality accessible
solutions. This in turn will reduce costs for buyers and sellers, and make it
easier for people with disabilities and age-related limitations to live, work
and play in an increasingly digital world.
ACCESS STAR will be overseen by an advisory board drawn from ICT and AT
vendors, government and consumer representatives from throughout the world. The
portal will be developed in phases.
OBJECTIVES
Among other things, ACCESS STAR is intended to:
• Help accelerate international harmonization of accessibility
standards and policies for accessible ICT and assistive technologies
• Promote excellence by featuring select case studies and advocating
industry best practices
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration between government,
industry and consumers around the globe.
TARGET AUDIENCES
ACCESS STAR will contain content and information of value to global ICT and
AT sellers (manufacturers and service providers, including Internet-based
services); global ICT and AT buyers (governments, institutions, corporations
and consumers); legislators; regulators; and standards development
organizations.
The portal will focus on global developments and trends in ICT and AT
accessibility in the following regions: Asia/Australia; Europe; Latin America;
Middle East/Africa; North America; and the People’s Republic of
THE SESSION
This session will feature a live demonstration of the features and
functionality that have been built into ACCESS STAR, including some of the
tools available to government, industry and consumers. We will also solicit
ideas and feedback from the participants, as well as explore collaborations
that may help make the portal an even more effective tool.
The demonstration will be provided by Ken J. Salaets, Executive Director of
ACCESS STAR, who also serves at Director of Government Relations at the
Information Technology Industry Council.
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