The national initiative for people with special needs in the information society: the elderly, people with disabilities and long-term bed-ridden

ABSTRACT

This article describes the work that has been done in Portugal with regard to the Information Society and citizens with special needs (i.e. citizens with disabilities, the elderly and the long-term bed-ridden) as a result of legislation (government resolutions), Ministry of Science and Technology policies (creating a special unit), participation in international initiatives (on-line discussion forum on the eEurope document), and the implementation of a plan of action, the basic goals of which were to provide accessibility to the Information Society for these citizens: access to the Internet, adapting or creating accessibility to initiatives being implemented as part of the Information Society to make them as inclusive as possible, and providing these citizens with infrastructures, equipment and training in new technologies. It is essential to look to the future in terms of full use of all the potential of the new technologies, when it comes to both products and services.

REFERENCES

• 1: Accessibility Guidelines to Digital Television for Citizens with Special Needs (version 1.0 - Portuguese version). http://www.acessibilidade.tv/menu/guia_acessTV10.html
• 2: Accessibility Guidelines to Telecommunication Services for Citizens with Special Needs (Version 0.4 - English version). http://www.acessibilidade.net/umts/access_guide04.html
• 3: eEurope Action Plan. http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/index_en.htm
• 4: INCNESI, National Initiative for People with Special Needs in the Information Society http://www.acesso.mct.pt/acesso/res96_99.htm http://www.acesso.mct.pt/acesso/res9699_en.htm
• 5: Internet Initiative http://www.mct.pt/novo/legislacao/despachos/iniciativa.htm
• 6: MScT / Unit ACESSO. http://www.acesso.mct.pt
• 7: Operational Program to Information Society (POSI) - Portugal. http://www.posi.mct.pt
• 8: Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 96 / 99 - Creates the National Initiative for Citizens with Special Needs in the Information Society and approves the respective framework document.(Framework Document for the National Initiative). http://www.acesso.mct.pt/acesso/res9699_en.htm
• 9: Resolution of the Council of Ministers N0 97/99 - ACCESSIBILITY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION WEB SITES FOR CITIZENS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. http://www.acesso.mct.pt/acesso/res9799_en.htm
• 10: Visitability Requirements - Implementation - Phase I - Visitability. http://www.acesso.mct.pt/acesso/vis_en.htmAnderson, R.E.

INDEX TERMS

General Terms:
Design, Legal Aspects, Standardization, Verification

Keywords:
accessibility kits, assistive technologies, disabled, elderly, info-inclusion, internet posts for all, telematic networks, universal design, web accessibility