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National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) will
provide national guidelines to developers for Web accessibility,
which will allow those with disabilities universal access to Internet
services.
Wantanee Phantachat, chief of assistive technology at Nectec, said
the agency has completed 90 per cent of the national guidelines
needed to develop websites for the disabled, to encourage government
agencies and the private sector to assist those with disabilities.
The idea is to allow five million
people in Thailand the same access to information and knowledge
via the Internet as others, and ensure they have universal access
to services.
"So far, five organisations
from more than 250 government agencies have developed websites to
support the disabled. These sites will provide an opportunity for
disabled people to access information and reduce the gap for access
to information technology," said Wantanee.
She said the national guidelines
will be aimed at ensuring telecom companies and service providers
develop communications services that are available to everyone on
an equal basis. The guidelines will also determine the format and
standard for the development of telecommunications and information
services for disabled people so it will be easier for them to use
new technology and services.
"The guidelines will focus
on how to ensure opportunities exist for elderly and disabled people
to gain access to information and communications services,"
said Wantanee.
The guidelines explain how to make
Web content accessible to people with disabilities and are intended
for all Web content developers and developers of authoring tools.
She said the guidelines will help
people more quickly find information on the Web, and do not discourage
content developers from using images and video. They also explain
how to make multimedia content more accessible to a wide audience
including techniques for document validation and testing, with an
index of HTML elements and attributes.
Jirapan Boonnoon
The Nation
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
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