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<DIV><SPAN class=427283715-22092005><FONT face=Arial size=4>Dear
freinds,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=427283715-22092005><FONT face=Arial
size=4></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=427283715-22092005><FONT face=Arial size=4>I have prepared a
statement for tomorrow plenary session on behalf of the internet Governace
caucus and the disability caucus. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=427283715-22092005><FONT face=Arial size=4>Any
comments?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=427283715-22092005><FONT face=Arial
size=4></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=427283715-22092005><FONT face=Arial size=4>Kicki Nordström
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=427283715-22092005><FONT size=4>
<P></FONT><FONT size=4><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>World Blind
Union</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=es></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=es><FONT
face=Arial>Immediate Past President</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>c/o SRF Iris AB</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>122 88 Enskede</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT face=Arial>Sweden</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
face=Arial>Tel: +46 (0)8 399 000</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
face=Arial>Fax: +46 (0)8 725 99 20</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
face=Arial>Cell: +46 (0)70 766 18 19</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
face=Arial>E-mail: <A href="mailto:kino@iris.se">kino@iris<SPAN
class=427283715-22092005>.</SPAN>se</A></FONT></SPAN> </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4><FONT face=Arial></FONT><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></FONT> </P><FONT size=4>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=5><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">My name is Kicki Nordström,
and I represent World Blind Union and the disability Caucus and the </SPAN><SPAN
lang=EN-GB>Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT face=Arial
size=5></FONT></SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT face=Arial
size=5>There are at least 600 Million persons with disabilities in the world! We
do have the same need and desires as everybody else. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
face=Arial size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT face=Arial
size=5>We believe that the Internet's value is created for serving all people in
the world. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><o:p><FONT
face=Arial size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=5><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN lang=EN-GB>The Internet is global and Persons with disabilities
are part of that global system. Unfortunately we are left aside due
to</SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">lack of unified standards.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=5><FONT face=Arial>Lack of a unified
standard system for ICT have lead to development of expensive and insufficient
applications and adaptation programs, to meet the immediate need for persons
with disabilities. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=5><FONT face=Arial>It is not
acceptable in the long run that we shall go on and design ICT in a way which
create a need for applications and adaptation for some
persons.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=5><FONT face=Arial><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=5><FONT face=Arial>ISO,
International Standard Organization, has over some years now, worked on a
Universal Design concept, in order to find solutions for a useable standard for
all persons, without a need for extra adaptations or applications. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=5><FONT face=Arial>Applications, for
instance the screen reading program I use for operate my computer is double or
three times so expensive as my laptop, as such. Due to the high cost, which only
Persons with disabilities are deemed to pay, not anyone
else.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=5><FONT face=Arial>It is now the
responsibility for governments and the<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>producers of ICT to commit themselves to adopt the Universal design<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>concept.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=5><FONT face=Arial>It is, in this
forum that governments must commit themselves to adopt and support the Universal
design approach. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=5><FONT face=Arial>We need a text to
secure our full and equal participation saying that “ICT should be appropriate,
accessible and affordable for all and applied to the universal designed
concept”. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=5> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><A
href="mailto:kino@iris.se"></A></FONT> </P></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>