Over the past decade, global policy discourse has increasingly focused on expanding “internet access” as a cornerstone of digital inclusion. Yet for persons with disabilities, connectivity alone does not translate into meaningful participation. A user may be connected, possess a device, and have basic digital skills—and still remain excluded due to inaccessible design, incompatible platforms, or poorly implemented technologies. This gap calls for a conceptual shift: from access to agency.
At the same time, the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into digital ecosystems is reshaping how users interact with technology. AI-powered tools—such as automated captioning, voice interfaces, and assistive agents—hold transformative potential. However, they also introduce new risks, including bias, unreliable outputs, and inaccessible design layers that may deepen exclusion if left unaddressed.
Against this backdrop, accessibility must be reframed not as a technical afterthought, but as a governance, rights, and development issue—central to debates on AI, digital public infrastructure, and inclusive innovation.
GUEST Dr. Vint Cerf – Chief Internet Evangelist, Google
HOSTS Dr. Muhammad Shabbir – Co-cordinator, IGF-DCAD Judith Hellerstein – Co-cordinator, IGF-DCAD
Uma Bhave Dr. Akashdeep Bansal Bodapati Sridahr – Founder, Edqueries Sunil Chaudhary – Pan (Accessible Nation)
Moderator: Ashutosh Singhal – Youth Ambassador, ASG VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
12 Digital Inclusion in Entertainment Industry
Dipti Prasad – Co-Founder, XL Cinema VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
13 Office of CCPD’s Role in Transforming Inaccessible Digital Platforms: Powers and Responsibilities
Shri S. Govindaraj – Commissioner, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
14 AI-Powered Accessibility for Visually Impaired Participants
Dr. Preeti Kamra – Capacity Development & Outreach Officer, ASG, India VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
15 Use of Assistive Technology in Classroom for Diverse Learners
Suvasini Shrestha – Regional Lead, ASG, Nepal VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
16 The Last Mile is Overhead: Why Satellite Infrastructure Is the Most Powerful Accessibility Tool We’ve Never Talked About
Kelly Colman – Chief Growth Officer, Xenesis, USA VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
17 Digital Infrastructure & ICT
Dr. Chabani Agrawal – National ICT Awardee, Senior IT Educator VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
18 Buddy Up Network: Inclusive Social Networking
Manisha Gandhi – Co-Founder, Buddy Up Network VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
19 Closing Remarks
Abdul Moid Dr. Bharti Kaushik – Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), NCERT Delhi Rajesh Tiwari Dr. Ashutosh Pathak – Chair, ASG VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR
Since many of us get confused between ‘Access’ to Internet and ‘Accessibility’ which is more related to providing a barrier free environment to disabled, this seminar holds the key to Accessibility, how to develop Accessible content, and how to validate and test the Accessibility of the content. This two hour seminar will also have an interactive Q&A session in the end to clarify any apprehensions or doubts the audience may have related to Accessibility.
PROGRAM
1. About Accessibility – Dr. Praveen Misra
2. Accessible Coding – Jaunita George
3. Accessibility Functional Testing – Angela Young
4. Q & A
On May 28 2020, from 12:00-13:30 UTC, in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (May 21) the Internet Society Accessibility Special Interest Group (A11ySIG) will host a webinar “When rhetoric meets reality: Digital Accessibility, Persons With Disabilities and COVID-19” This free webinar bring together digital accessibility experts and people with disabilities to discuss the digital accessibility outlook beyond COVID-19. The webinar aims to share and offer a variety of ideas from different disabilities and different parts of the world. SPEAKERS: David Berman, David Berman communications (Canada); Naveed Haq, Regional Director Infrastructure and Connectivity, Asia Pacific Internet Society (Pakistan); Gunela Astbrink, Vice President Accessibility SIG (Australia); Fernando Botelho, F123 initiative (Brazil); Judy Okite, founder, Association for Accessibility and Equality (AAFE) (Kenya); Peter Crosbie, advocate for the autistic community (France); Lidia Best, Vice President, European Federation of Hard of Hearing (UK); Manique Gunaratne, Manager, Specialized Training and Disability Resource Centre (Sri Lanka). MODERATOR: Muhammad Shabbir Awan, President, ISOC Accessibility SIG.
Diamond have posted the recording of their April 16 2020 webinar ‘ A Global Perspective on Regional Accessibility‘. A panel of experts from around the world gathered to discuss accessibility challenges and how various countries address them, moderated by a co-founder of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Panelists: Makoto Ueki, Infoaxia (Japan); Irene Mbari-Kirika, inABLE, (Kenya); Patrick Dunphy, CBC Radio (Canada); Charlii Parker, Vision Australia (Australia). Moderator: Joe Devon, Diamond.
Today, Thursday May 17 2018, is the 7th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital (web, software, mobile, etc.) access/inclusion and people with different disabilities. The target audience of GAAD is the design, development, usability, and related communities who build, shape, fund and influence technology and its use. While people may be interested in the topic of making technology accessible and usable by persons with disabilities, the reality is that they often do not know how or where to start. Awareness comes first.
Amongst the many events worldwide on this day there are three in NYC
Today, Thursday May 18 2017, is the sixth annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital (web, software, mobile, etc.) access/inclusion and people with different disabilities. The target audience of GAAD is the design, development, usability, and related communities who build, shape, fund and influence technology and its use. While people may be interested in the topic of making technology accessible and usable by persons with disabilities, the reality is that they often do not know how or where to start. Awareness comes first.
