[Irl-dean] NDA - Code of Practice on Public Body Accessibility?

[Gerry Ellis]

Hi,

My initial response is to bang the same drum that I have banged consistently for the last ten years or so.

Government and public bodies see the delivery of products and services as a way of saving money as they can deploy staff who are currently providing them to other, more efficient activities.

There are loads of stats around to show that there is a large number of older and disabled citizens in ireland and Europe.  See the recent European ICT Communication for the most up to date of these.

Although we recognise that manual systems of delivering products and services will never be completely eradicated, they can only be maximised by ensuring that electronically delivered products and services are accessible to the largest number of customers possible.  Hence, Design for All, early inclusion of people with disabilities in the design stage, user testing, etc etc.

Furthermore, products and services which are designed with the needs of people with disabilities in mind are easier to use by everyone.

In short, if our needs are met, we gain but so do the public bodies who will actually save money and staf who can be deployed to more stimulating and interesting duties.

Shorter still, tell public bodies "you scratch my back, and you are scratching your own".


Take care,

Gerry Ellis
t/a Feel The BenefIT

Tel   (+353-1) 282-7791
Mob   (085) 716-8665
email gerry.ellis at feelthebenefit.com

If you don't know where you're going,
How will you know when you get there?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barry McMullin" <mcmullin at eeng.dcu.ie>
To: <irl-dean at list.eeng.dcu.ie>
Cc: <mcmullin at eeng.dcu.ie>
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 12:49 PM
Subject: [Irl-dean] NDA - Code of Practice on Public Body Accessibility?


> Hi All -
> 
> I just notice that the NDA have published an open "Call for
> Comment on Draft Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public
> Services and Information provided by Public Bodies".  This arises
> in the context of public organisations which have to meet
> particular new statutory requirements under the Disability Act
> 2005. The deadline for comment is 28 October, 2005.  Members of
> Irl-dean may wish to comment in their own right, of course, but
> equally if there were any shared views on particular aspects it
> might be an idea to have a formal irl-dean response as well.  I
> guess we might discuss that a little through the mailing list...
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> - Barry.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Irl-dean mailing list
> Irl-dean at list.eeng.dcu.ie
> http://list.eeng.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/irl-dean
>