Communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri has called for greater attention to be paid to making ICT accessible to the disabled.
The minister was speaking at the launch of a project entitled 'Integrating Disability in the ICT Value Chain/Industry` on Friday, to mark International Day of Disabled Persons.
The project is aimed in part at raising awareness by role players in the ICT industry and other sectors about ICT`s access barriers and challenges faced by people with disabilities.
Matsepe-Casaburri said that as part of its e-strategies, SA should address the special requirements of people with disabilities and other disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, to ensure their full inclusion in the information society.
"We must encourage design and production of ICT equipment and services so that everyone has easy and affordable access to them, including, among others, persons with disabilities, and promote the development of technologies, applications and content suited to their needs, guided by the universal design principle and further enhanced by the use of assistive technologies."
Matsepe-Casaburri referred to earlier announcements that a series of consultative meetings had taken place as part of the broader planning process for the national conference on disability, which is scheduled to take place next year during the build up to the World Summit on Information Society in Tunisia in November 2005.
"In recognition and reaffirming our commitment to an inclusive ICT environment, we have therefore resolved to announce the launch of this initiative during this time, when our country is busy with the celebrations of the 16 Days of Activism which coincides with the International Day of the Disabled," she said.
Speaking at a rally in Polokwane on Friday, deputy president Jacob Zuma noted that as part of moves to make ICT available to the disabled, the government had launched plans for a national accessibility portal in June this year. He said the portal was launched in partnership with various stakeholders, including the Office of the Status of Disabled Persons, the CSIR, a representative group from the Disabled Person`s Organisation and Eskom.
"This portal will ensure it improves access to information to four million South Africans with disabilities, and contributes towards their empowerment and ensure they live independent lifestyles. The phase one of the project is now complete and it will be rolled out in three phases in the five-year period," said Zuma.
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