Print this page Robert Pearson ![]() 04/14/2014 An Accessibility Bill of Rights for Digital InclusionWith the World Wide Web celebrating a quarter of century of being in existence, Robert Pearson explores what a Bill of Rights for Digital Inclusion should comprise, for a more inclusive web.
Recently, on the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web, its founding father Tim Berners Lee called for the creation of a Bill of Rights for the citizens of the web. Not long after this declaration, the 29th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference (CSUN) took place in San Diego. In attending this conference, it became an appropriate environment to consider what an Internet Bill of Rights may look like from the perspective of the accessibility of content and media as well as digital inclusion. An Internet Bill of Rights should feature some of these foundational points:
Whether it's simply a plain language definition of WCAG 2.0, or something more, there is an ideal here that should be pursued. One question, though, is how would it be enforced? The W3C would not have the regulatory backing to do so. Could it be included in the CRPD? Or is it already? Would the rights be open to interpretation? It's almost something that could be enforced by some form of “world body” or international institution. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************ Related ResourcesBlog: Enabling Environments for Persons with Disabilities: How Much Progress Has Been Achieved? | Read Viviana Montenegro's Article. Publication: Developing e-Accessibility as a Professional Skill | Download Free PDF. Event: 2014 M-Enabling Summit on Accessible Mobile Technology for Seniors and Users of All Abilities | June 9-10, 2014, Washington, DC | View Event Details. |