Internet Society Conducted a Workshop to Make Web Accessible for Special Persons

A workshop was conducted on web accessibility by the Internet Society to look for methods for making the web more accessible and beneficial for people with disabilities, on Thursday.

Internet Society Conducted a Workshop to Make Web Accessible for Special Persons

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Shabbir Ahmed, Internet Society representative while deliberating a paper on web availability concerns, said that we usually talk about minorities, marginalities, and racism, but we fail to talk about individuals with disabilities.

“It is high time that we find a way to incorporate people with disabilities in our work and make use of their talent. The aim of gathering everyone here is not just to make web more accessible for people with special needs but also to find a way to involve them in the processes and operations.”

He said.

Ahmed emphasized that it is important to implement standards, policies and laws to accomplish the authorized requirement while also making websites accessible.

“In terms of the accessibility of a website, its design and content both should be accessible.”

UET Professor Dr Sarmad Hussain discussed different applications and technologies that assist people with special needs use the web.

“Web access is important because the web is the main source of communication and a great tool for work in today’s age. Companies have a social responsibility.”

He added.

A freelance web professional and creator Saima Yousaf from Beyond Vision told that it is important for people with disabilities and impairment to use the web.

“Before we find ways to make web accessible, we need to know the precise meaning of accessibility; it is to give equal access of information to everyone on a particular subject.”

She said.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman Dr Syed Ismail Shah also said that the problem of accessibility needs equivalent work.

“A few years ago, PTA was supposed to keep a regulation and balance in the telecom sector. It played the role of a referee, however, that role is changing now and that is the reason why accessibility is PTA’s concern too now that it deals with voice and web and mobile applications.”

He said Pakistan has around 20 to 30 million disabled individuals that have the right to use the web.

“I am honoured to be part of this because it taught me several things that will be worked on in the near future. I believe learning never stops and PTA is going to try its best to play a role in software development and work with telecoms to make web more accessible.”

Dr Shah added.