Financial Services Accessibility
Introduction
Aging demographics and the impact of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), now ratified by 186 countries (as of May 2023), are driving further demands and expectations around the world for accessible services to all citizens allowing them to live as independently as possible. Since 2006, G3ict facilitates collaborations among governments, business leaders, regulators, and civil society representatives (e.g. Organizations of Seniors and Persons with Disabilities), in promoting accessibility requirements and innovative assistive solutions in various sectors including in education and the workplace, and for specific areas of technology and services such as mobile communications, television, public access points, web sites, e-government and public procurement.
Aim
The G3ict's Financial Services Accessibility Program was initiated in 2013 and has held seminars and conferences for the financial services industry in Europe (France, United Kingdom), the United States, China, India, and Latin America (Ecuador).
The program aims to be a repository of information on the measures that banks, insurance companies and other financial services firms are undertaking in order to make their products and customer service more accessible and friendly to users of all abilities.
In 2014, it completed a survey of compliance trends and accessibility practices at several international banks, the results of which were published in 2015 in the report: “Inclusive Financial Services for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities: Global Trends in Accessibility Requirements.”
This report highlights the organizational and process adjustments needed to ensure a culture of accessibility in the financial services and banking sector, as well as the importance of improving the user experience, managing accessibility compliance, and creating an inclusive workplace environments in this sector. G3ict Best Practices White Paper Series, researched in cooperation with The Centre for Internet & Society, India | Published by G3ict in February 2015 (Document accessibility courtesy BarrierBreak)
Organizer
The Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict)
With the support of:
- Scotiabank
- IBM Accessibility
- Société Générale Group
- CIO
- Le Monde Informatique
- Indian Banks' Association
- Centre for Internet & Society (CIS)
- Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC)
Related Events
- International Briefing: Inclusive Financial Services for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities, Paris, France (April 5, 2016)
- Session: "Transacting and Paying," M-Enabling Summit 2015, Washington, D.C. (June 1st, 2015)
- Session: "Making Mobile e-Commerce Work for Seniors and Users of All Abilities," M-Enabling Summit 2014, Washington, D.C. (June 10, 2014)
- International Meeting of Micro Finances for All: Towards Productive Inclusion, Quito, Ecuador (March 10, 2014)
- G3ict – XRCVC High-Level Seminar on Inclusive Financial Services, Mumbai, India (Feb 24, 2014)
- Financial Inclusion 2020 Global Forum, London, UK (Oct 28-30, 2013)
- 9th China Information Accessibility Forum, Beijing, China (Oct 15-16, 2013)
- Session "Leading Mobile Solutions for Accessible Financial Services," M-Enabling Summit 2013, Washington, D.C. (June 7, 2013)