Accessible communications for people with disabilities - PTS-ER-2005:41
13/01/2006
In this report the National Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) presents a strategy for achieving the disability policy objectives within PTS's sector area no later than the 2010. The primary orientation of this strategy is to broaden the focus from filling gaps in the range of communications to endeavouring to influence the market stakeholders to offer public communications services that also satisfy the needs of people with disabilities. The aim is to reduce the need for special solutions for people with disabilities. Providing services to people with disabilities and conducting trials will, however, continue to be among PTS's most important tasks.
It is PTS's vision that everyone in Sweden should have access to efficient, affordable and secure communications services.
PTS proposes the following orientation objectives for the work of PTS in the disability area up to and including 2010:
- People with disabilities should have access to a broad range of communications services
- People with disabilities should have the opportunity of gaining access to new technical solutions within the area of electronic communications and postal services
- Users and stakeholders should have access to information about the communications needs of people with disabilities and the communications opportunities available in the market
- PTS's operations should result in efficient utilisation of resources and interoperable solutions.
PTS also proposes the following areas for action, which express the overall orientation of the measures that PTS has prioritised up to and including 2010:
- Development of PTS's services and trials – PTS will continue to provide special solutions within electronic communications and postal services in order to satisfy the needs of people with disabilities. PTS will also conduct trials to evaluate usability and new technology.
- Information initiatives – PTS will inform users, operators and service providers about the needs and opportunities available within electronic communications and postal services.
- Collaboration – PTS will collaborate with the stakeholders in the market to enhance knowledge about how adaptations and modifications of services and products within this sector area could possibly facilitate and increase use by people with disabilities.
- Harmonisation and interoperability – PTS will work to promote independent network- and terminal-equipment communications solutions through influencing policy decisions at EU level and participating in international standardisation and coordination work.
- Strategic monitoring – PTS will monitor how new technology within electronic communications and postal services can enhance accessibility for people with disabilities. PTS will monitor the communications needs of people with disabilities and improve measurability of objectives for the disability area.