MeAC – Measuring Progress of eAccessibility in Europe

Policy approaches based on equality / anti-discrimination legislation have considerable potential in the eAccessibility field. Such approaches can provide people with disabilities – individually or collectively – with a right to seek redress if they are confronted with inaccessible ICT equipment or services, either in relation to ICT-based goods and services in a general sense or in relation to specific usage contexts.

Legislation/regulations

The Law on Equal Treatment (2003) transposes the EU equality directives. It prohibits discrimination against disabled people and introduces general equality requirements. This law is applicable to areas of: governance, rendering of public services and administrative decisions by the state and local government institutions, education, and labour and consumer protection. However, it does not impose any direct obligations regarding eAccessibility nor have any actions emerged based on this law that relate to eAccessibility.

The Law on Integration of Disabled [People] into Society (2004) prohibits discrimination against disabled people in any social life sphere and guarantees access to social services, information and social benefits. The law has a direct link with eAccessibility because government institutions are obliged to provide disabled people with the means of electronic communication (article 25.7). The act foresees that the Information Society Development Committee will be responsible for the adoption of an information environment that is suitable to disabled people.

Goods and services equality

The Law on Equal Treatment (2003) prohibits discrimination on the disability ground in the provision of goods and services. Manufacturers, sellers and service providers must create equal conditions for all consumers, regardless of their age, sexual orientation, disability, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief to obtain the same products, goods and services. However, to date there do not appear to have been any instances in which the law has been invoked in relation to eAccessibility.

Employment equality

The Law on Equal Treatment contains the principle of “reasonable accommodation” in article 5.9 which specifies a requirement to take appropriate measures to provide conditions for the disabled to obtain work, to perform work, to a career or to study, provided that the duties of the employer would not be disproportionately burdened as a result.

Education

The Law on Equal Treatment also applies to education. In addition, in 2005, the Information Society Development Committee produced a standard entitled ‘Methodology for Adaptation of Information Environment for Education of People with Disabilities’ which addresses how to make digital education accessible for people with disabilities.

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