Telecommunications - Guidelines for Accessibilty

The main objective of COST 219bis is to increase the availability of telecommunication services and equipment so that they are accessible to disabled and elderly people. These services and equipment should be designed so that the special needs are taken into account, but if this is not possible they could also be made more adaptable to meet the required needs. In cases where neither of these can be achieved, the action will propose appropriate supplementary services and equipment. The aim is therefore to make sure that the universal design concept in one form or another is taken into account when dealing with telecommunications and Telematics.

The Action also seeks to promote research into the field of telecommunications and Teleinformatics with the aim of proposing solutions to the problems related to the needs of disabled and elderly people in providing access to new telecommunication and Teleinformatic services.

The signatory members in COST 219bis are Australia (GSA), Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States of America (TRACE).

Acknowledgemnets: GunelaAsbrink, Jan Ekberg, Gunner Hellström, Jan-Ingvar Lindström, Patrick Roe and Gregg Vanderheiden.