Oman among top 10 globally in digital accessibility for disabled

Energy Saturday 01/December/2018 21:44 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman among top 10 globally in digital accessibility for disabled

Muscat: Oman has been ranked among the top 10 performers globally, and first, regionally in the Digital Accessibility Rights Evaluation (DARE) index conducted by G3ict, the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs, which aims at benchmarking digital accessibility for persons with disabilities.
The DARE Index score includes points corresponding to the three categories of variables measured: country commitments, the capacity to implement, and actual outcomes in digital accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Oman’s achievement in digital accessibility is an outcome of the existing legislations, laws, and policies issued over the last 10 years, as well as the exerted efforts by government and private organisations and non/governmental organisations under the leadership of the Information Technology Authority (ITA).
The work on digital empowerment started back in 2008 when ITA recognised the importance of making the main portal in Oman fully accessible to enable all citizens and residents of different segments to access available information and use electronic
services.
After ITA ensured the accessibility of its website, in 2009, it started to spread awareness among government entities to allow PWDs access to their websites.
In 2010, ITA included web accessibility as the main criteria in the eContent category in His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Award for Excellence in eGovernment.
From 2013 onwards, the ITA laid emphasis on digital inclusion by the issuance of a circulation about the inclusion of eAccessibility in the eTransformation plans of government entities.
Digital accessibility is the extent to which an ICT-based product, tool, information or service can be used by persons with disabilities and elderly people as effectively as it can be used by a person without a disability.