WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Thread: Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility for India

for

Number of posts in this thread: 7 (In chronological order)

From: Rahul Gonsalves
Date: Mon, Oct 27 2008 11:20AM
Subject: Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility for India
No previous message | Next message →

Hello!

As an independent accessibility consultant, I was heartened by India's
ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, and especially with Articles 9 and 21 (mandating online
accessibility). However, over the last two years, little or no work
has been done at a policy level - so I would like to propose a
National Policy on Online Accessibility for India.

At the moment, I'm trying to bring together the various different
groups working on accessibility, as that would lend some weight to the
project. I've put down some of my thoughts here:

http://rahulgonsalves.com/e-access/

If you would like to support this effort - not financially - but
merely by publicising it and becoming a part of this, I'd be most
grateful. I look forward to hearing from you - suggestions, criticism
and complaints are all welcome!

Warmly,
- Rahul Gonsalves.

(apologies for cross-posting)

-----------------------------------------
Rahul Gonsalves
e: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
w: www.rahulgonsalves.com
m: +91 98866 19365
-----------------------------------------

From: Poore-Pariseau, Cindy
Date: Tue, Oct 28 2008 7:10AM
Subject: Re: Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility for India
← Previous message | Next message →

Just a quick suggestion, you might want to change the font on your website to a sans serif. The font you are using is difficult to read, particularly for anyone with a visual disability.

Cindy Poore-Pariseau
Disability Specialist
Bristol Community College
508-678-2811
x 2470, B104
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Rahul Gonsalves
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 1:22 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: [WebAIM] Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility for India

Hello!

As an independent accessibility consultant, I was heartened by India's
ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, and especially with Articles 9 and 21 (mandating online
accessibility). However, over the last two years, little or no work
has been done at a policy level - so I would like to propose a
National Policy on Online Accessibility for India.

At the moment, I'm trying to bring together the various different
groups working on accessibility, as that would lend some weight to the
project. I've put down some of my thoughts here:

http://rahulgonsalves.com/e-access/

If you would like to support this effort - not financially - but
merely by publicising it and becoming a part of this, I'd be most
grateful. I look forward to hearing from you - suggestions, criticism
and complaints are all welcome!

Warmly,
- Rahul Gonsalves.

(apologies for cross-posting)

-----------------------------------------
Rahul Gonsalves
e: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
w: www.rahulgonsalves.com
m: +91 98866 19365
-----------------------------------------

From: Karlen Communications
Date: Tue, Oct 28 2008 7:30AM
Subject: Re: Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility for India
← Previous message | Next message →

On the other hand, I have a visual disability and prefer a serif font as I
use the ligatures to decode the letters. I find that the sans-serif fonts
are confusing to read and often can't tell an "l" from a "t."

Maybe those of us who have visual disabilities can use a custom CSS for
sites such as this?

Cheers, Karen

-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Poore-Pariseau,
Cindy
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 9:11 AM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility for
India

Just a quick suggestion, you might want to change the font on your website
to a sans serif. The font you are using is difficult to read, particularly
for anyone with a visual disability.

Cindy Poore-Pariseau
Disability Specialist
Bristol Community College
508-678-2811
x 2470, B104
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Rahul Gonsalves
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 1:22 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: [WebAIM] Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility for India

Hello!

As an independent accessibility consultant, I was heartened by India's
ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, and especially with Articles 9 and 21 (mandating online
accessibility). However, over the last two years, little or no work
has been done at a policy level - so I would like to propose a
National Policy on Online Accessibility for India.

At the moment, I'm trying to bring together the various different
groups working on accessibility, as that would lend some weight to the
project. I've put down some of my thoughts here:

http://rahulgonsalves.com/e-access/

If you would like to support this effort - not financially - but
merely by publicising it and becoming a part of this, I'd be most
grateful. I look forward to hearing from you - suggestions, criticism
and complaints are all welcome!

Warmly,
- Rahul Gonsalves.

(apologies for cross-posting)

-----------------------------------------
Rahul Gonsalves
e: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
w: www.rahulgonsalves.com
m: +91 98866 19365
-----------------------------------------

From: Tom Babinszki
Date: Tue, Oct 28 2008 7:50AM
Subject: Re: Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility for India
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi Rahul,
 
I certainly support any initiatives which aim at creating national policies. I have related experience in the United States and in South East Asia.
I definitely would like to learn more about your initiative. Please feel free to contact me with more details.
 
Tom
 
Tom Babinszki, PMP
Even Grounds
Accessibility Consulting
E-mail: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Phone: +1 (703) 853-2990
http://www.evengrounds.com 
 


--- On Tue, 10/28/08, Rahul Gonsalves < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

From: Rahul Gonsalves < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Subject: [WebAIM] Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility for India
To: "WebAIM Discussion List" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 1:22 AM

Hello!

As an independent accessibility consultant, I was heartened by India's
ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, and especially with Articles 9 and 21 (mandating online
accessibility). However, over the last two years, little or no work
has been done at a policy level - so I would like to propose a
National Policy on Online Accessibility for India.

At the moment, I'm trying to bring together the various different
groups working on accessibility, as that would lend some weight to the
project. I've put down some of my thoughts here:

http://rahulgonsalves.com/e-access/

If you would like to support this effort - not financially - but
merely by publicising it and becoming a part of this, I'd be most
grateful. I look forward to hearing from you - suggestions, criticism
and complaints are all welcome!

Warmly,
- Rahul Gonsalves.

(apologies for cross-posting)

-----------------------------------------
Rahul Gonsalves
e: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
w: www.rahulgonsalves.com
m: +91 98866 19365
-----------------------------------------

From: Rahul Gonsalves
Date: Tue, Oct 28 2008 10:10PM
Subject: Re: Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility for India
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi Tom,

On 28-Oct-08, at 7:20 PM, Tom Babinszki wrote:

> I certainly support any initiatives which aim at creating national
> policies. I have related experience in the United States and in
> South East Asia.
> I definitely would like to learn more about your initiative. Please
> feel free to contact me with more details.

The primary purpose of starting this initiative is to get the
government of India to begin thinking about issues of electronic
accessibility, as there seems little or no work done in this area.

I envision that the policy will end up not too different from either
the Canadian or Australian guidelines, mandating that public sector
websites be made accessible, and suggesting guidelines for private
sector websites to follow/creating a standard by which they may be
held to in a court of law.

I look forward to your suggestions and support.

Best,
- Rahul.

From: Cynthia Waddell
Date: Wed, Oct 29 2008 1:00PM
Subject: Re: Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility forIndia
← Previous message | Next message →

Dear Rahul:
Will you be participating in the United Nations Internet Governance Forum
(IGF) scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, India in December? I would like to
assist you in your effort for a proposed national policy on online
accessibility for India.

I will be in Hyderabad speaking at IGF at a number of workshops, including
one by the United Nations, the International Telecommunication Union, the
Council of Europe and the Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability.
What is the status of this proposed policy? The Dynamic Coalition may be a
good place to network.

Best regards,
Cynthia Waddell

--------------------------------------------------
Cynthia D. Waddell, JD
Executive Director and
Law, Policy and Technology Consultant
International Center for Disability Resources
on the Internet (ICDRI)
Phone: (408) 691-6921

ICDRI is based in
Raleigh, North Carolina USA
http://www.icdri.org/CynthiaW/cynthia_d.htm

See My New Book!
Web Accessibility: Web Standards and
Regulatory Compliance by Apress
at www.icdri.org/WSR_Book.htm
See also Constructing Accessible Web Sites
www.icdri.org/constructing_accessible_web_site.htm

Is your Web Site Accessible?
Find out now with Cynthia Says! www.cynthiasays.com
Endorsed by the American Council of the Blind,
the CynthiaSaysTM portal is a joint Education
and Outreach project of ICDRI, The Internet
Society Disability and Special Needs Chapter,
and HiSoftware.
-----Original Message-----
From: Rahul Gonsalves [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 9:09 PM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ; WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility
forIndia

Hi Tom,

On 28-Oct-08, at 7:20 PM, Tom Babinszki wrote:

> I certainly support any initiatives which aim at creating national
> policies. I have related experience in the United States and in
> South East Asia.
> I definitely would like to learn more about your initiative. Please
> feel free to contact me with more details.

The primary purpose of starting this initiative is to get the
government of India to begin thinking about issues of electronic
accessibility, as there seems little or no work done in this area.

I envision that the policy will end up not too different from either
the Canadian or Australian guidelines, mandating that public sector
websites be made accessible, and suggesting guidelines for private
sector websites to follow/creating a standard by which they may be
held to in a court of law.

I look forward to your suggestions and support.

Best,
- Rahul.

From: Rahul Gonsalves
Date: Thu, Oct 30 2008 3:20AM
Subject: Re: Proposed National Policy on Online Accessibility forIndia
← Previous message | No next message

Dear Cynthia,

On 30-Oct-08, at 12:33 AM, Cynthia Waddell wrote:

> Will you be participating in the United Nations Internet Governance
> Forum
> (IGF) scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, India in December? I would
> like to
> assist you in your effort for a proposed national policy on online
> accessibility for India.

I would have liked to attend the IGF, but am not sure about my
schedule. However Nirmita Narasimhan, at the Centre for Internet and
Society [1], who is a partner in this policy endeavour, has confirmed
her attendance.

> I will be in Hyderabad speaking at IGF at a number of workshops,
> including
> one by the United Nations, the International Telecommunication
> Union, the
> Council of Europe and the Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and
> Disability.
> What is the status of this proposed policy? The Dynamic Coalition
> may be a
> good place to network.

At the moment, we are very much in the formative stages - I have some
small experience with web accessibility and no experience on building
a national-level policy. I will shortly be sending out an email asking
for help and suggestions on how best to take this forward - I see this
ideally moving forward as a strong community effort.

I look forward to your support - at the moment, the best way to
participate in this process is to join the e-Access Google Group [2].

Best,
- Rahul.

[1] http://cis-india.org/
[2] http://groups.google.com/group/e-access/