Introducing eAccesibility to local policy makers

Acronym of the case:

HBUI

Web address of the case:

http://www.hoebereiktuiedereen.nl

Country of the case:

Netherlands

Posting Date:

11 September 2008

Last Edited Date:

18 September 2008

Author:

Velleman Eric (Accessibility Foundation)

Procurement | campaign | awareness

Type of initiative

Promotion/awareness campaign

Case Abstract

For the "Hoe bereikt u iedereen" campaign (how to reach everyone) two non-profit organisations in the Netherlands work together with the industry to create awareness about eAccessibility for people with disabilities, people with low literacy and the elderly. They have organised 12 meetings throughout the country focusing on awarenes, where local policy makers discover ways to achieve fast results in eInclusion and to make organisations more aware of the possibilities and requirements.

Description of the case

Domain

eInclusion

Topic

ICT and community development

Sector

Culture and Media | Local/Regional Community Development | Social Services

Date

April to December 2008

Date operational

April 2008

Target Users

SMEs, associations and intermediaries

Target Users Description

Local policy makers and communication managers.

Scope

National | Regional (sub-national)

Status

Operation

Language(s)

Dutch

Policy Context and Legal Framework

Project Size and Implementation

Type of initiative

Awareness-raising information

Overall Implementation approach

Partnerships between administration and/or private sector and/or non-profit sector

Technology choice

Not applicable/not available

Funding source

Public funding regional | Charity, voluntary contributions

Project size

Implementation: €15-49,000

Implementation and Management Approach

Three organisations work together with the mayors of several small Dutch towns. The meetings are organized by the local policy makers and have no cost for organizers and visitors.

Local policy makers are invited to a top level presention in which they are explained:
- What can they do to improve eAccessibility of their website (including eProcurement tips).
- How can they easily provide accessible versions of their documents.
- How can eAccessibility be anchored in an organisation. The presentations and discussion shows that a sudden move towards accessibility is not an easy thing to do and requires structural changes in the organisation.

Impact, innovation and results

Impact

One of the results we expect and see from the first meetings: Regional and local policy makers include eAccessibility in their procurement rules and political choices. They also influence neighbours to do the same and compare the results.

Lessons learnt

Lesson 1 - Visit local policy makers close to where they live. It is sometimes difficult to reach them. They are not always willing to go to national meetings and it is difficult to get them all in one place at the same time. Visiting them close to home increases the audience and their enthousiasm significantly.

Lesson 2 - eAccessibility is not something you just do by building an accessible website or organising an accessibility event for the people in your organisation. There is more to it than meets the eye. The complete organisation, methods and thinking has to change.

Lesson 3 - When adressing local policy makers, time is limited. They want the full solution indication within 90 minutes.

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