<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2722" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY
style="WORD-WRAP: break-word; khtml-nbsp-mode: space; khtml-line-break: after-white-space">
<DIV>
<P><FONT size=4>Dear Jeanette,</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Thanks a lot for your help of strengthning the statement. I have
now included your wording but used "reaffirming " instead of "asking" Hope you
agree?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>I paste the text below so as it can be picked up for copying and
distribution.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>All the best</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Kicki</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>__________________</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>My name is Kicki Nordström, and I represent World Blind
Union<SPAN class=370482417-22092005><FONT face=Arial> , </FONT></SPAN>
the disability Caucus and the Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus.
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>There are at least 600 Million persons with disabilities in the
world! We do have the same need and desires as everybody else. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>We believe that the Internet's value is created for serving all
people in the world. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>The Internet is global and Persons with disabilities are part of
that global system. Unfortunately we are left aside due to lack of unified
standards. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>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. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>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.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>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. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>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.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>It is now the responsibility for governments and the producers
of ICT to commit themselves to adopt the Universal design concept. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>It is, in this forum that governments must commit themselves to
adopt and support the Universal design approach. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>The caucus of persons with disabilities asks the governments to
express their firm commitment in the final Tunis document to secure our full and
equal participation reaffirming that "ICT should be appropriate, accessible and
affordable for all and applied to the universal designed concept".</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>____________________</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Från: Jeanette Hofmann [</FONT><A
href="mailto:jeanette@wz-berlin.de"><U><FONT color=#0000ff
size=4>mailto:jeanette@wz-berlin.de</U></FONT></A><FONT size=4>] </P>
<P>Skickat: den 22 september 2005 19:18</P>
<P>Till: Kicki Nordström</P>
<P>Ämne: Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Statement for tomorrow from the IG caucus</P>
<P>Kicki, I like very much your statement. I would only suggest to eddit the
last sentence. Last sentence should address the governments directly. Also, you
should mention the final Tunis documents. I think you should ask the governments
to express their firm commitment in the final Tunis document 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".</P>
<P>suggested language by Jeanette:</P>
<P>The caucus of persons with disabilities asks the governments to to express
their firm commitment in the final Tunis document 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".</P>
<P>thank you for your contribution, je</P>
<P>></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </P>
<P>Kicki Nordström wrote:</P>
<P>> Dear freinds,</P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> I have prepared a statement for tomorrow plenary session on behalf of
the internet Governace caucus and the disability caucus. </P>
<P>> Any comments?</P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> Kicki Nordström</P>
<P>> World Blind Union</P>
<P>> Immediate Past President</P>
<P>> c/o SRF Iris AB</P>
<P>> 122 88 Enskede</P>
<P>> Sweden</P>
<P>> Tel: +46 (0)8 399 000</P>
<P>> Fax: +46 (0)8 725 99 20</P>
<P>> Cell: +46 (0)70 766 18 19</P>
<P>> E-mail: kino@iris.se <</FONT><A href="mailto:kino@iris.se"><U><FONT
color=#0000ff size=4>mailto:kino@iris.se</U></FONT></A><FONT size=4>></P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> My name is Kicki Nordström, and I represent World Blind Union and the
disability Caucus and the Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus. </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> There are at least 600 Million persons with disabilities in the world!
We do have the same need and desires as everybody else. </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> We believe that the Internet's value is created for serving all people
in the world. </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> The Internet is global and Persons with disabilities are part of that
global system. Unfortunately we are left aside due to lack of unified standards.
</P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> 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. </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> 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.</P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> 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.
</P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> 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.</P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> It is now the responsibility for governments and the producers of ICT to
commit themselves to adopt the Universal design concept. </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> It is, in this forum that governments must commit themselves to adopt
and support the Universal design approach. </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> 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". </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> <</FONT><A href="mailto:kino@iris.se"><U><FONT color=#0000ff
size=4>mailto:kino@iris.se</U></FONT></A><FONT size=4>></P>
<P>> </P>
<P>> </P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>