Despite the progress that has taken place in the sector of technology, efforts of ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities remain limited. This is due to the limited opportunities of capacity building, weak awareness among engineers and industrialists, and the hindering of persons with disabilities’ voices in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy development and decision-making.

Inspired by the disposition of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities regarding accessibility, the Global Initiative for Information and Communication Technologies have been playing a pivotal role in promoting the persons with disabilities’ right to inclusive ICTs. Benefiting from the results of its Digital Accessibility Right Evaluation Index, G3ICT has realized the increasing commitment of CRPD States Parties to issues of ICT Accessibility. Nevertheless, The DARE index data show the remaining challenges encountered by governments’ procurement capacity for offering actual support to inclusive ICT programs, products, and services. ICT accessibility continues to be absent from higher education and vocational training programs. Furthermore, advocacy efforts of persons with disabilities and their organizations remain limited within the realm of digital accessibility.

This paper discusses G3ICT’s Digital Accessibility Right Education (DARE) Academy, and its role in tackling issues of digital divide through offering a platform of educational development and advocacy capacity enhancement for persons with disabilities around issues of ICT accessibility.

Accessible Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a crucial role in promoting inclusion in society, ensuring that everyone, including individuals with diverse abilities, can participate fully in various aspects of life.
Following international accessibility standards ensures consistent and reliable accessibility across platforms and formats. International accessibility standards advise on how to make digital content, websites, apps, and other technologies accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
― Identify ICT barriers for persons with disabilities
― Identify accessibility features in ICT
― Recognize standardization aims and benefits in ICT accessibility
― Describe major examples of ICT Accessibility standards and standards making bodies
― Describe the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) standardization framework
― Explain the guiding principles of web Accessibility

ICT accessibility and inclusive design is considered as a relevant and essential topic that needs to be well covered and integrated within capacity building, training and education curricula and programmes. Despite this urgent need, there is a lack of integration of ICT-AID aligned courses in educational institutions and professional development services based on a comprehensive Global competency framework delimiting all required relevant competencies and capabilities in the field of ICT accessibility and Inclusive Design. It is in this context that Mada center has developed an open competency framework in a bid to guide globally training of students and workers on ICT accessibility and inclusive design, so that they will be well prepared to excel in their accessibility professions and contribute in the creation of accessible products, contents and services.

This portal provides a repository containing policies, laws and regulations related to ICT accessibility as a reference for legislators and policy makers, locally, regionally, and internationally. The purpose of this portal is to achieve inclusion by advocating for ICT accessibility policy adoption and development, in order to actively promote an inclusive ecosystem for people with disabilities in line with international best practices and within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The purpose of Mada innovation program is to encourage innovators to bring relevant innovative Arabic assistive technologies and accessibility products and services for Persons with disabilities and the elderly.

Nafath aims to be a key information resource for disseminating the facts about latest trends and innovation in the field of ICT Accessibility. It is published in English and Arabic languages on a quarterly basis and intends to be a window of information to the world, highlighting the pioneering work done in our field to meet the growing demands of ICT Accessibility and Assistive Technology products and services in Qatar and the Arab region.

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) face daily challenges and barriers in different sectors, especially the ICT field, which result in their exclusion from accessing learning opportunities and using digital technologies.
This training workshop is part of the Mada Academy ICT accessibility training program.
By taking this introductory training session, you will understand and learn the foundations of ICT Accessibility. You will be introduced to the broad scope of disability, accessibility, and the related legal landscape, and you will explore the key principles guiding accessible content creation.

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) face daily challenges and barriers in different sectors, especially the ICT field, which result in their exclusion from accessing learning opportunities and using digital technologies.
This training workshop is part of the Mada Academy ICT accessibility training program.
By taking this introductory training session, you will understand and learn the foundations of ICT Accessibility. You will be introduced to the broad scope of disability, accessibility, and the related legal landscape, and you will explore the key principles guiding accessible content creation.

الاتفاقيات والقوانين والمعايير الدولية المتعلقة بإمكانية الوصول ونفاذية تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات ضمن الوحدة الثالثة المشهد القانوني للإعاقة وإمكانية النفاذ

تهدف هذه الورشة إلى تزويد المشاركين بالمعرفة حول تيسير الوصول إلى المحتوى عبر وسائل الإعلام التقليدية والرقمية للأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة، وضمان تكافؤ الفرص في استهلاك المحتوى الإعلامي مع التركيز على أحدث التوجهات العالمية وأفضل الممارسات في النفاذ الرقمي.