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Nepal’s regulatory framework already mandates making ICTs accessible to the general public.
However, there is a need to outline specific requirements regarding delivery of services for
customers with disabilities in order to enable them to use telecommunication services effectively.
In furtherance of its mandate to guarantee reliable and easily available telecommunication
services, protect consumer rights and enhance quality of service and exercising powers as given
in the Telecommunications Act, 2053 BS (1997), Nepal Telecommunications Authority (‘NTA’)
has formulated this Code of Good practice (‘Code’).Initially, NTA intends this code to be
followed voluntarily by all telecommunications service providers (‘service providers’). However,
the provisions of this code may progressively be made mandatory.
The purpose of this Code is to provide guidance to service providers on making their services
accessible for customers with disabilities. In doing so, it draws upon international best practices
in the area of accessibility of telecommunication services. It also recognises that accessible
telecommunication products and services would benefit a large demographic group comprising
persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups including illiterate and elderly persons.
For service providers, ensuring accessibility of relevant ICT accessible products and services
promises great potential to reach sizable number of customers. Hence, adhering to this code may
be viewed as an opportunity rather than an obligation.
2 Objective
The objective of this Code is to enable equitable, barrier-free and affordable access to
telecommunication services for persons with disabilities in Nepal.
3 Guiding principle
This Code is based on the principle that access to ICTs is a basic human right as enshrined in the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to which Nepal is a signatory and that all
persons with disabilities should have access to telecommunication facilities and services on an
equal basis and without discrimination.
This Code sets out minimum criteria for accessibility in service delivery for customers with
disabilities. The requirements of this Code apply to all the licensed telecommunication service
providers operating in Nepal, irrespective of the nature of their service or size of their
organization.
4 Key terminology
Some important terms used in this code are defined in the Annexure.
5.3.5 Consideration
Service providers shall deliver timely and accessible services at no extra charge to customers and
without any compromise on quality.
5.5 Review
This code is subject to periodic review as may be determined by NTA from time to time.
Annexure
Accessibility
Accessibility is a measure of the extent to which a product or service can be used by a person
with a disability as effectively as it can be used by a person without that disability.
Source: http://www.e-accessibilitytoolkit.org/toolkit/eaccessibility_basics/introduction_to_e-
accessibility%20basics
Assistive Technologies
The term "assistive technology" is closely related to "enabling technology", that is technology
that enables access to information, communication or the environment.
Source: http://www.e-
accessibilitytoolkit.org/toolkit/promoting_assistive_technologies/introduction_assistive%20techn
ologies
Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or
sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and
effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
Source: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=261
Reasonable accommodation
Source: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=262
Relay Services
Relay services are human operated services for media and mode translation during phone
conversations. They usually have financial support since the operation of those requires human
resources. The different types of relay services are video, text, speech-to-speech, captioned
speech and instant messaging.
Source:http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/sis/PwDs/Documents/Mobile_Report.pdf
Screen reader
A screen reader is a software application that attempts to identify and interpret what is being
displayed on the screen (or, more accurately, sent to standard output, whether a video monitor is
present or not). This interpretation is then re-presented to the user with text-to-speech, sound
icons, or a Braille output device. Screen readers are a form of assistive technology (AT)
potentially useful to people who are blind, visually impaired, illiterate or learning disabled, often
in combination with other AT, such as screen magnifiers.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_reader
Service Provider
Source: http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/sis/PwDs/Documents/Mobile_Report.pdf
TTY
TTY stands for Text Telephone. It is a special device that lets people who are deaf, hard of
hearing, or speech-impaired use the telephone to communicate, by allowing them to type
messages back and forth to one another instead of talking and listening. A TTY is required at
both ends of the conversation in order to communicate.
Source: http://abouttty.com/
Universal Design
Universal Design has emerged as a result of new technological possibilities, together with new
social priorities to promote inclusion and prevent discrimination. In Article 2 of the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Universal Design is defined:
"the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to
the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”Universal
Design" shall not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of persons with disabilities
where this is needed."
Source: http://www.e-
accessibilitytoolkit.org/toolkit/product_development_and_design/improve_product_accessibility
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international community where Member
organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop Web standards.
Source: http://www.w3.org/Consortium/
Guidelines for making Web content more accessible to people with disabilities, including
blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations,
limited movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity and combinations of these. The latest
version of these guidelines is WCAG 2.0
Source: http://www.w3.org/standards/techs/wcag#w3c_all