Guide to Implementing Priority ICT Accessibility Standards

Critical Technical Specifications to Support Digital Inclusion: Smart Cities for All

Smart Cities and digital inclusion efforts are rapidly advancing worldwide but these efforts remain largely separated from one another. Without better integration between these efforts, Smart Cities programs currently risk leaving people with disabilities and older persons behind. Worldwide, Smart Cities programs are making enormous technology investments and yet do little to consider accessibility and the inclusion of persons with disabilities and older persons. Accessible information and communications technology (ICT) technical standards are key to designing a more inclusive approach to Smart Cities. Today there are a small number of internationally recognized and broadly adopted ICT accessibility standards available to guide the development of Smart Cities. Cities should begin by understanding and adopting an appropriate ICT accessibility standard to help ensure their Smart Cities programs and digital services are inclusive of persons with disabilities and older persons.