Resolution of the Council of the European Union, Brussels, 14 January 2003.

The Council of the European Union has among its tasks to promote throughout the Community a high level of employment and social protection and to raise the standard of living and quality of life, and economic and social cohesion.

The Council 'Resolution on "eAccessibility"-improving the access of people with disabilities to the Knowledge Based Society' calls on member states and invites the Commission to:

* promote a more coordinated approach by the key players involved in eAccessibility and in the application and development of technology, standards, legislation, and education;

 

*encourage and empower people with disabilities to take more control over the development of the mechanisms for delivering eAccessibility by increasing their participation in technology programmes and projects, standardisation bodies and tehnical committees;

 

* promote common methodologies with regard to the use of the WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) guidelines.

 

* promote feedback on standardisation activities and their impact on the real-life situation of people with disability;

 

* consider the provision of an "eAccessibility mark" for goods and services which comply with relevant standards for eAccessibility;

 

* promote the aim that proposed Design for All curricula are developed and adopted by the relevant educational authorities in each member state;

 

* ensure that multimedia materials and the use of ICT in education do not create new barriers for the integration of students with disabilities into schools and other places of learning;

 

* ensure that eAccessibility becomes a regular part of all education programmes of vocational schools of any level, e.g. web masters, multimedia authors, and software developers.

Click to see the full document "Council Resolution on "eAccessibility" - improving the access of people with disabilities to the Knowledge Based Society"

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