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G3ict

Our Story

The Beginnings

  • Fall 2006
    As the final text of what would become the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was being negotiated at the United Nations, advocates, industry leaders, and UN officials began discussing the need to promote its forward‑looking provisions on the accessibility of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
  • 4 December 2006
    G3ict was formed one week before the CRPD’s adoption by the UN General Assembly, with support from the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN GAID) and the Secretariat for the Convention at UN DESA. Seventy‑five participants from disability advocacy organizations, the ICT industry, and the public sector—including members of the Ad Hoc Committee that negotiated the Convention—helped shape G3ict’s mission and objectives, which remain consistent today.
  • February 2007
    The Global Alliance endorses G3ict as one of its four Flagship Advocacy Initiatives at a UN GAID meeting hosted by Craig Barrett, Chairman of Intel Corporation and then Chair of UN GAID.
  • 2006-2008
    G3ict operates as a division of World Times, Inc., which conducted UN‑related programs in social development. With no UN or public funding available, G3ict relies on private‑sector contributions, philanthropic grants, volunteer leadership, and in‑kind support from organizations hosting events or contributing expertise.
  • September 2008
    G3ict becomes an independent nonprofit incorporated in the State of Georgia. H.E. Ambassador Luis Gallegos, former Chair of the UN Ad Hoc Committee for the CRPD, serves as Board Chair. Axel Leblois, a former high‑tech executive who led G3ict’s formation, becomes President and Executive Director.

The “Big Bang”

  • 30 March 2007
    Eighty‑four countries sign the CRPD on opening day — the highest number of opening‑day signatures for any international treaty at the time.
  • As signatures and ratifications grow, opportunities expand rapidly for G3ict to collaborate with international organizations, governments, and stakeholders.
  • G3ict develops a strategy focused on building a strong knowledge base contributed by volunteer experts and shared widely through publications, toolkits, and events. Early collaborations include major UN Specialized Agencies (ITU, UNESCO, World Bank, ILO), UN DESA, and UNITAR.
  • 2006-2016
    During its first decade, G3ict organizes, hosts, or contributes to more than 170 capacity‑building events worldwide in partnership with governments, universities, industry, and organizations of persons with disabilities.

    G3ict also develops foundational resources for policymakers, including:
    • The G3ict–ITU e‑Accessibility Policy Toolkit for Persons with Disabilities
    • The UNESCO–G3ict Model Policy for Inclusive ICTs in Education
    • A series of ITU–G3ict model policies for television, web, procurement, public access points, and mobile services
    • By January 2021, G3ict’s handbooks and reports have been downloaded more than 1.17 million times by experts around the world.

Benchmarking ICT Accessibility Progress

  • 2010
    G3ict begins benchmarking the implementation of CRPD provisions on ICT accessibility and assistive technologies. In partnership with Disabled People’s International (DPI), G3ict publishes the CRPD ICT Accessibility Progress Report.
  • Over time, a global network of volunteer experts contributes to this research, making the Progress Report one of the few sources tracking worldwide implementation of ICT accessibility commitments.
  • 2020
    With input from more than 160 experts, G3ict releases the second edition of the DARE Index, providing updated data and rankings for 137 countries. Read the Press Release (Arabic, English, French, Spanish).
  • 2026
    The DARE Index 3.0 edition will be released in the Spring.

Promoting Innovation

  • 2009-2010
    G3ict observes the transformative impact of mobile technologies on digital accessibility. For the first time, persons with disabilities can access versatile, affordable devices with built‑in assistive features such as text‑to‑speech, voice recognition, GPS, and Near Field Communication.
  • 2011-present
    G3ict launches the M‑Enabling Summit in partnership with E.J. Krause and Associates. The Summit quickly becomes a major gathering for advocates, industry leaders, and accessibility professionals.
  • Today, the M‑Enabling Summit—fully owned by G3ict since 2022—is a global conference and showcase that fosters innovation benefiting more than one billion persons with disabilities and a rapidly growing aging population. Conference website.

Addressing Implementation Challenges

  • 2015-present
    G3ict research shows that while many countries have strengthened their commitments to ICT accessibility through laws, regulations, and programs, implementation capacity often remains limited. Challenges include organizational, financial, and technical barriers, as well as insufficient participation of persons with disabilities and private‑sector stakeholders.
  • April 2019
    The Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) redeploys its activities under G3ict, strengthening global efforts on accessibility and universal design.
  • January 2026
    With expanded IAAP regional chapters—including the Nordic countries, the United Kingdom, the D‑A‑CH region, India, and Mexico—and nearly 10,000 active members across 110 countries and more than 10,000 certified professionals, IAAP continues to advance accessibility training and professional certification. These efforts are essential to effective CRPD implementation.
  • As part of G3ict’s organizational alignment, the Global Advisory Center (GAC) has been renamed Advisory Services, reflecting its expanded role in delivering strategic guidance, roadmaps, and technical support to governments, cities, and organizations worldwide.
  • Similarly, Institutional Advocacy is now Global Policy & Advocacy, a name that better captures its leadership in shaping policy, standards, and multilateral engagement aligned with the CRPD.

Next Steps

With growing global awareness of the importance of digital accessibility, a strong community of experts, and a solid institutional foundation, G3ict looks forward to continuing its work with governments, advocates, and private‑sector partners around the world.

One benchmark at a time, one new standard at a time, one successful program at a time—digital accessibility is achievable. Across media, e‑books, computers, kiosks, wearables, e‑government, e‑commerce, the Internet, IoT, and AI, G3ict works to advance one of the most significant opportunities for independent living and inclusion for 1.3 billion persons with disabilities worldwide.