Frances West, Global Thought Leader in Digital Accessibility, to Chair G3ict Strategy and Development Committee
G3ict, the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies, is pleased to announce that Frances West, who served as Steering Committee member since G3ict founding in 2006 at the United Nations, has been appointed as Chair of its Strategy and Development Committee.
ATLANTA (July 07, 2016) —
Frances West served as the IBM Chief Accessibility Officer and Director of the IBM Human Ability & Accessibility Center until June 30, 2016. Frances will bring to G3ict her intimate knowledge of and global perspective on IT accessibility standards, government policies, and the potential of human-centric technologies designed to personalize users’ experience so that all people reach their highest potential in work and life, including persons with disabilities, the aging population, novice technology users, people with language, learning and literacy challenges, or any individual facing situational challenges while using a device. “Frances chairing the G3ict Strategy and Development Committee is a very timely and terrific addition to our leadership team,” said Axel Leblois, President and Founder of G3ict. “Frances brings an exceptional understanding of global trends in accessibility around the world. Her input and guidance will be most valuable for our long term strategy and for our latest sectoral initiative focusing on promoting and integrating accessibility in Financial Services, Higher Education, Aging and Smart City solution implementation.”
G3ict Committees play an important role in supporting G3ict’s goals and objectives. Its Research Committee helped develop the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ICT Accessibility Progress Report, while its Employability and Education Committees have shaped G3ict’s international activities since its inception. “G3ict has been a pioneer organization in bringing the public and private sectors together to address the challenges and opportunities associated with accessibility. I look forward to working on new thinking and strategies so that we can help government and companies accelerate accessibility related actions, solutions and innovation. This is important because with the aging demographic sweeping the world, accessibility needs are now an economic and societal issue in addition to a human rights and individual issue.”
Ambassador Gallegos, Chair of the Board of Trustees of G3ict added: “Frances participated in our global advocacy activities since our very first kick-off meeting at the United Nations back in December of 2006 alongside leaders of the disability movement, United Nations agencies and of the IT industry. Her support and contributions over the years to shape the global dialogue on the accessibility of Information and Communication Technologies has been invaluable. We very much look forward to her continued involvement with G3ict’s global advocacy.”
Follow Frances West at her blog.
About G3ict
G3ict – the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies – is an advocacy initiative launched in December 2006 in cooperation with the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at UN DESA. Its mission is to facilitate and support the implementation of the dispositions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the accessibility of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and assistive technologies.
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