United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Accessibility Innovative approaches for inclusive and accessible development

The GPDD attended and contributed to the implementation of the "Expert meeting on environmental and ICT accessibility: innovative approaches to inclusive development" at World Bank Headquarters, Washington, DC (USA) from 28-30 June 2010. The meeting was organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in cooperation with the World Bank. Read more.

Approximately 12 to15 experts, representing all regions, were invited in their individual capacity to participate in the meeting. Invited experts are expected to contribute a brief participation paper or set of speaking points on environmental accessibility issues and trends in their respective area of expertise. Representatives of United Nations agencies and organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and academic institutions were able participate on their own account as observers.

The Expert meeting aimed to promote greater awareness of environmental and ICT accessibility and advancement of persons with disabilities in the context of development, and to identify innovative and cost-effective approaches to accessibility both in the physical environment and in the fields of information and communications technologies as means to further inclusive processes of development.

The Expert meeting provided a forum for intensive exchanges of knowledge and experience relating to norms and standards, institutional arrangements, governance, technologies and actual practice related to accessibility and reasonable accommodation in the physical environments as well as in the fields of information and communication technologies(ICT). Special attention was directed to environmental and ICT accessibility and advancement of persons with disabilities in the context of developing countries. Universal design accorded special attention in the review and analysis of issues, trends and priorities for action in promoting accessibility as a means and goal of development.

http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1516