Digital Inclusion for People with Disabilities (TN0076)

Commitment Description

Digital access for people with disabilities is one of the issues that concern various countries, in an effort to keep pace with changes in the field of digital access and to adopt policies that contribute to supporting the process of digital transformation and enabling various groups of society, especially groups with disabilities, to benefit from modern technologies and the opportunity they offer to change their life patterns and improve their integration into society, as well as to achieve the goals related to digital inclusion and empowerment established and agreed upon by various international organizations. Given the importance of the issue and its link to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and in order to improve Tunisia's position among countries, particularly in the field of digital accessibility and the measurement of the Digital Accessibility Rights Evaluation Index, the Electronic Government Unit has embarked on the development of a national plan for digital accessibility for people with disabilities and a unified reference that includes specific technical standards to be adopted in the development of public digital services and platforms.

The problem to solve

- The lack of a specific reference that includes specific technical standards to be adopted in the development of public digital services and platforms. - Public portals, platforms and e-services do not meet robust international standards for digital accessibility

Determine the objectives for implementing the commitment/expected results

- Provide a unified reference that includes specific technical standards to be adopted in the development of public digital services and platforms. - Inclusive access to digital services and platforms for all social groups, including people with disabilities

How will the commitment help solve the problems/change the reality?

- Bridging the digital divide and enabling all members of society to access and use information and communication technologies, - Consider the category of people with disabilities and the elderly when designing and developing portals, platforms and e-services, - Public portals, platforms and e-services compliance with sound international standards for digital accessibility, - Improving Tunisia’s index in the field of digital accessibility

Proportionality to the main axes

- Transparency: The development and improvement of national policies and guidelines to enhance digital accessibility contributes to transparency by providing fair and equal opportunities for people with disabilities to access services and information that rely on information and communication technologies. - Participation: Promoting and advancing the participation of people with disabilities by supporting their access to information and communication technologies and public services

Funding source/relationship to other programs and policies

Funding source: This project falls within the framework of technical cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Phases and implementation schedule

July 2023 - Elaboration of a questionnaire to collect data on the current reality of digital accessibility

August and September 2023 - Producing a report that analyzes the current state of digital accessibility

December 2023 - Development of terms of reference for the local expert

January 2024 - Hiring a local expert

January 2024–March 2024 - Developing a draft of the national plan

April 2024 - Organizing one (or more) workshops on policies and technical guidelines for digital accessibility

July 2024 - Organizing an information day to present the national plan for digital accessibility for people with disabilities