The National Business & Disability Council (NBDC) is pleased to make available to its corporate partners the following resources and tools:
Accessible Information and Communication Technologies: Benefits to Business and Society (March 2010)
The unremitting pace of technological development has made a profound impact on business, government and society. It is evident that in today’s fast moving corporate world, information and communication technologies (ICTs) are fundamental to the operation and growth of any organisation. Gaining business advantage in an increasingly competitive digital and global marketplace means primarily ensuring that you do not cut yourself off from consumers by making your ICT products or services hard to access or use make it difficult to attract, retain or get the best performance from employees as they cannot access or use ICTs essential to their work. Moreover, with corporate scrutiny increasing from the government, stakeholders, regulators and the media, it makes business sense to avoid bad press or, worst of all, discrimination cases about provisioning inaccessible and unusable ICTs. Conversely, business can benefit hugely from press and user interactions as to success stories. Ensuring investment in ICTs delivers accessible and usable products, services, workplace environments and facilities for all is crucial to your success.
DIGITAL INCLUSION: Model ICT Accessibility Policy Report (November 2014)
The Model ICT accessibility policy report is developed for information and communication technology (ICT) policy-makers, regulators and other stakeholders active in ICT and/or disability issues, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), organizations of persons with disabilities, and parliamentarians. This report addresses a range of facets of the ICT sector and is designed to assist in policy making in public ICT access, mobile communications, television/video programming 1 , web accessibility and public procurement. It also provides a framework for countries to develop policies, through legislation, regulations, standards, and guidelines, to provide an institutional framework for ICT accessibility. It recognizes that in many instances, and in particular with reference to a disability policy framework, “soft law” or voluntary initiatives, negotiated roadmaps, codes of conduct, and compliance can also be effective in promoting equitable access to information and communications technologies for persons with disabilities in a fast changing technology environment; as such it provides guidance on both regulatory and voluntary approaches.
ICT Benchmark Findings Report (June 2016)
Recognizing that benchmarks can play a powerful role in encouraging companies to uphold labor standards, KnowTheChain has benchmarked 20 ICT companies on the transparency of their efforts to eradicate forced labor from their global supply chains.
The ICT Opportunity for a Disability-Inclusive Development Framework (September 2013)
Including persons with disabilities in all aspects of society is one of the remaining challenges of the global development agenda. The widespread adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2006 heralded a major step forward in advancing the inclusion of persons with disabilities, turning their socio-economic exclusion into a human rights issue. The UNCRPD places significant obligations on all state officials responsible for equal access to education and employment opportunities. With 155 signatures and 130 ratifications to the UNCRPD, the Convention is on its way to becoming a truly universal framework for policy, legislation and regulation championing the rights of persons with disabilities. As this process continues, all stakeholders are focusing their attention on advancing its implementation, putting special emphasis on including specific references, actions and goals aimed at further integrating persons with disabilities into the new international development agenda. This new framework will come into force after 2015, the deadline established for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Power of Digital Inclusion: Technology’s Impact on Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities (October 2011)
The National Council on Disability (NCD) explored the utility and accessibility of six key digital technologies that can enhance social engagement, increase opportunities for workplace participation, and heighten employment prospects or create new employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
