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Qualitative Data Collected by Variable for Uruguay

Country Laws and Regulations

General Law protecting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:

  • Uruguay has the Law 18418 that ratifies the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
  • Law 19651 on the comprehensive protection for persons with disabilities Law 19691-2018
  • Law 19307 on Audiovisual Communication Services - Regulation of its provision (Media Law)

Law 17378 on the recognition of the Uruguayan Sign Language as the natural language for deaf persons and their communities throughout the territory of the Republic Law 17378

The Law 19262 through which the Marrakesh Treaty is ratified and Decree 295/017 on the application of this treaty and the "Action Protocol for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Educational Centers" and its regulation Decree 72/017

Definition of ICT accessibility:

Under Law 18651, the definition of "accessibility" is oriented towards the reduction of architectural barriers in physical spaces (Reference in Article 77). Law 19691 adopts a generic definition (oriented mainly to the labor area) of "accessibility" without mentioning Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). As mentioned under article 7 of this law, the definition of accessibility, however, is limited to the educational field under the "protocol of action for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in educational centers". The reference is made to the requirements that tools and devices must meet, in order to be understandable, usable and operable by all persons under conditions of safety, comfort and in the most autonomous way possible. Especially in paragraphs 6.2 and 6.5 of this article, the different types of accessibility are broken down where the information and communication technologies are mentioned and detailed for persons with disabilities. Under Law 19307, the articles 35, 36 and 37 are dedicated to the accessibility of audiovisual communication services for persons with disabilities, referring to the fact that open television services must provide part of their programming with subtitles, sign language or audio description, especially the content of general interest such as informational, educational, cultural and relevant events.

Definition of Reasonable Accommodation:

Under law 18651 referring to the protection of the human rights of persons with disabilities, the term “technical aids” is adopted to define and equate it to the concept of “reasonable accommodation”. However, based on the protocol of action for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in schools and its regulation No. 72/017 of 2017, the term "reasonable accommodation" (framed in education) is already adopted and defined as: those supports necessary for students with disabilities in the educational center, in terms of general availability of services and facilities that allow students with disabilities to actively participate in the educational plan in order to promote their autonomy. The above-mentioned include working along with welfare and health institutions, families and the educational community in general. It also refers to provide and promote spaces for participation, information, reflection, orientation and consultation in educational centers. The objective is to facilitate continuous and personalized support, individualized educational strategies that identify the adjustments and support necessary for each student. For example, this refers to the provision of compensatory aids and assistance (specific learning materials, alternative and augmentative means of communication, etc.), as well as qualified human resource support when needed. However, despite the fact that there is no explicit provision in which it is clearly stated that the denial of the implementation of the reasonable adjustments constitutes an act of discrimination, from the reading of the regulations indicated in the previous section, it is interpreted that the failure to guarantee these "grants" is a violation of the rights of persons with disabilities to perform on an equal basis. The reference of the concept of "technical aid" as stated by Law 18651, article 88, reference on "reasonable accommodation" under the Protocol of Action for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Educational Centers, Article 7, Paragraph 7.2, in Decree N ° 72/017 in Provision V, and in Law 19691, Article 4.

Universal Service Obligation includes Persons with Disabilities:

The Article 12 on universal access to radio and television of the Media Law 19307, refers to the fact that “the State must guarantee universal access, as well as the use of free and open radio and television broadcasting services such as part of a comprehensive strategy to achieve the objective of ensuring the social inclusion of the entire population and the exercise of fundamental rights recognized in the Constitution of the Republic ”. On this basis, Article 28 refers to the right to non-discrimination when saying that audiovisual communication services may not disseminate content that incites or advocates discrimination and national, racial or religious hatred towards sectors of the population that are more vulnerable, among them, persons with disabilities are mentioned. Media Law 19307

Meanwhile, the decree 160/019 on the regulation of the provision of radio, television and other audiovisual communication services (Media Law 19307), establishes in its Article 22 that open television services have the obligation to articulate mechanisms of accessibility of its contents to persons with disabilities. In articles 23, 24, 25 and 26, the parameters are set in terms of timing and procedures for these services to be accessible by persons with disabilities. Decree available at: Decree 160-2019

Country Capacity to Implement

  • Government agency for Persons with Disabilities:

There is the National Honorary Commission on Disability (CNHD) ratified by law 18651 of 2010 which is a public entity under private law that operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Social Development and the National Program on Disability (PRONADIS). The National Honorary Commission on Disability

In addition, there is the National Disability Program (PRONADIS), which is the national benchmark program on disability that is coordinated by the Ministry of Social Development and whose purpose is the promotion, coordination and execution of programs and supports that allow the implementation of policies focused on the inclusion of persons with disabilities. The objective is to improve their quality of life and social inclusion. Currently, PRONADIS has adopted most of the roles that the CNHD was performing. National Disability Program

  • Government agency for accessible ICTs:

Despite the fact that in Uruguay there is no government body specifically dedicated to accessible information and communication technologies, there is the Agency for Electronic Government and the Information and Knowledge Society (AGESIC). This agency created in 2005 with the objective of “seeking the improvement of services to citizens, using the possibilities offered by information and communication technologies (ICT). Likewise, it promotes the development of the Information Society in Uruguay with an emphasis on the inclusion of the digital practice of its inhabitants and the strengthening of society's skills in the use of technologies”.

Although it does not have a specific department for accessible ICTs, its practices include offering recommendations for state portals to follow and incorporate the UNIT Norms on digital accessibility. Agency for Electronic Government and Information and Knowledge Society

  • Process to involve DPOs in ICT accessibility policy making:

N/A

  • Country refers to international ICT accessibility standards:

Through the Uruguayan Institute of Technical Standards (UNIT), the country has Standards 1215-1 and 1215-2 of 2014 for standardization of digital accessibility guidelines based on the W3C - WCAG Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

The UNIT 1215-1 Standard establishes the characteristics that the information and other content must have available through internet web technologies, intranets and any type of computer networks so that they can be used by most persons, including persons with disabilities and elderly persons, either autonomously or through support technologies, covering the needs derived from most types of disabilities (visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning and neurological). On the other hand, the UNIT 1215-2 establishes the requirements for the web accessibility management system that can be used when an organization wants to demonstrate its ability to design, develop, maintain, and manage content accessible through web technologies. Moreover, it aims to increase the accessibility content through web technologies by implementing a management system that ensures that the site and its contents meet the requirements established in the UNIT 1215-1 Standard and that accessibility is maintained over time.

  • ICT accessibility courses available at universities or professional education services:

Both the ORT University of Uruguay (Course: Accessibility and Web Usability), and the Catholic University of Uruguay (Training Workshop on Accessible Audiovisual Media), frequently teach ICT accessibility courses, as well as accessibility courses for media and audiovisuals. In addition, civil society usually offers courses focused on ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities which has been the longest-running course: "Expert in ICT, Inclusion and Disability", given by Creática with the support of FREE Iberoamericana for the Uruguay - Spain Cooperation. This course is in its 11th edition.

Country Policy and Programs Outcomes

  • Web:

-Policy Program: Accessibility Plan for Montevideo City_Uruguay

  • TV and multimedia:

-Country Policy: Regulatory Unit for Accessible Communication Services

  • Mobile telephony:

N/A

  • E-books and digital contents:

-Country Policies: Law No. 19262 of 29/08/2014, Law No. 19149 of 24/10/2013, Article 237

  • Promoting the Internet Availability and Usage among Persons with Disabilities:

N/A

  • Inclusive ICTs for all in education:

N/A

  • Enabling ICTs for all in employment:

N/A

  • E-government and Smart Cities for all:

N/A

  • Enabling Assistive Technologies and ICTs for independent living:

N/A

  • Procurement of accessible public goods and services for all citizens:

-Country Policy: For the digital policy and implementation in Uruguay, please visit: Digital Policies and Implementation for the e-Government

-Country Programs: The report on "Uruguay as a Leader in Digital Development" published on the website of the Agency for Electronic Government and the Information and Knowledge Society (AGESIC): Report "Uruguay as a Leader in Digital Development".

e-Government and Information Society and Knowledge