[DCAD] DCAD Session Proposal Reminder due April 26

Mon Apr 22 10:12:49 PDT 2024

Dear Deirdre and Andrea,

Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences. It's evident that navigating the myriad meetings and commitments within the IGF, ITU, and other internet governance groups is becoming increasingly challenging, especially considering the global nature of these discussions and the need to accommodate diverse time zones.

Andrea’s reflections on the historical context of accessibility efforts within these organizations underscore the persistent challenges we face in promoting inclusion and advancing accessibility initiatives. It's disheartening to realize that despite some progress, many fundamental issues remain unresolved, and there's a continuous need for advocacy and representation from individuals with disabilities.

I completely agree with the point about the importance of having experienced accessibility experts represented on the main ruling board of the IGF. Without such representation, it's difficult to ensure that accessibility considerations are fully integrated into decision-making processes.

My post from last year,  <https://igf-dcad.org/diversity-and-inclusion/> "Moving Beyond Tokenism: Why Disability Inclusion in IGF Leadership is Critical for a Digital Future," remains highly relevant and serves as a powerful reminder of the need for substantive changes in leadership structures to drive meaningful progress.

I appreciate your ongoing efforts to address these issues and your commitment to advancing accessibility and inclusion within internet governance. 

Thank you once again for your support and invaluable contributions to DCAD. 

Best,

Dr. Muhammad Shabbir,

Coordinator,

Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability (DCAD),

Twitter:  <https://twitter.com/MShabbirPhD/> https://twitter.com/MShabbirPhD/

From: Andrea Saks <andrea at andreasaks.com> 
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2024 3:06 PM
To: Deirdre Williams <williams.deirdre at gmail.com>
Cc: Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability <dcad at lists.igf-dcad.org>; Judith Hellerstein <judith at jhellerstein.com>; Muhammad Shabbir <mshabbirawan at gmail.com>; Lidia Best <best.lidia at gmail.com>
Subject: RE: [DCAD] DCAD Session Proposal Reminder due April 26

Thanks for your support Deidre,

As I said it is not just IGF/DCAD but all of them each thinking “theirs” is the most important group or meeting on the planet.  I do not know of anyone else who try’s to attend them all.  However now I have the problem in the ITU as well. The three sectors do not talk to each other. 

I found an old document ( attached) this morning by accident dated 2009 when DCAD was formed by the ITU when I was asked by Malcolm Johnson of the ITU to form DCAD.  It just popped up as it was misfiled.  It is not corrected and I do not know yet where the corrected version is filed yet in this ancient PC.  But have a look at this old gem and you will see that the same things were being said then as are now being said.  

The only real difference now is that we have captioning  now. And sign interpreters at meetings. Industry is still has the same mind set and accessbility is not really mainstreamed in schools.  It should start at kindergarten. 

Even though then as now both the ITU and IGF claim to be the first users of captioning.  I think there was a deployment difference of 3 months between the two groups.   Deidre you were around in 2009. So looking back what do you think we have we really changed.  Unfortunately unless we have genetic implantation of the right consciousness in people’s brain we seem to have to have a tiny group in all of the UN organization almost begging for recognition for the main stream to do the right thing.

What is my point?? It is always going to be a never ending battle.  Unless we remember the past and make sure there is an experienced accessbility expert on the main ruling board of IGF we will be doomed to continue to spin our wheels in this side group.  I am trying to locate the first DCAD accessbility document so you all can see it. It is somewhere in this old PC that I happen to be using this morning. 

Would you send me your copy when you amend the your copy of the document.  I would like to have a look at your version. If I have a suggestion I will send it directly to you as I respect your opinion as you have worked with me from the very beginning. If you find what ever I say useful you can incorporate or not as you see fit. 

Again thanks for your support.  I do not know how we can get people to work together on the planning of meetings or not.  IGF and ITU have  been in competition for a very long time since the “fall out” between Hamadoun Toure and Vint Cerf many many years ago. I have a very long memory. And I keep plodding along.  Turn 77 next month and I started answering the phone for my deaf parents at 18 months of age.

Another chapter for the  book.

All the best

Andrea J Saks

ITU lAUREATE

International Telecommunications Specialist for the Deaf

Designated Intersector Coordinator on Accessibility for ISCG 

(ITU-T Intersector Coordination Group)

Chairman JCA-AHF, (Joint Coordinating Activity on Accessibility and Human Factors)

JCA-AHF Rep. to IGF DCAD,  (Internet Government Forum-Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability)

Tel  <tel:+44%201242%20820%20800> +44 1242 820 800 voice land line
mobile  <tel:+%2044%207956%20222916> + 44 7956 222916 (UK) What’s App and SMS

USA Cell mobile  +1 425 233 5308  voice only when in USA. SMS and WhatsApp  
email <mailto:andrea at andreasaks.com> andrea at andreasaks.com 

From: Deirdre Williams <williams.deirdre at gmail.com> 
Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2024 5:22 PM
To: Andrea Saks <andrea at andreasaks.com>
Cc: Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability <dcad at lists.igf-dcad.org>; Judith Hellerstein <judith at jhellerstein.com>; Muhammad Shabbir <mshabbirawan at gmail.com>; Lidia Best <best.lidia at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [DCAD] DCAD Session Proposal Reminder due April 26

Let's work to include Andrea's suggestion in our proposal. Just because it is now possible to have universal meetings is no justification for having them. I find this is a local problem too. I'll try to include the idea in my comments when I look at the document this afternoon. I think it is very relevant and not only for the "disability " community.

That having been said and just to be difficult DCAD does need to have some sort of regular communication to justify its existence.  Perhaps we can come up with a better way?

Deirdre

On Sun, 21 Apr 2024, 11:51 Andrea Saks, <andrea at andreasaks.com <mailto:andrea at andreasaks.com> > wrote:

Dear Judith and all,

Due to the many conflicts of many meetings that are occurring during this past week and this week to follow and many of them being at the same time  and because organizers having no recourse  with no method of checking in advance being employed by the planners of the timing of these meetings as to which meetings that pertain to the progress of persons with disabilities so that they not being scheduled in conflict, I regret I am unable to help.  

I am taking the ITU to task about this. So I hope IGF and DCAD take this on board. These past two weeks have been a nightmare for me trying to attend all that I need to and not managing it.

Sorry I can’t help within the time frame given due to the schedule of conflicts I am trying to navigate.

Apologies.

All the best

Andrea

Andrea J Saks

ITU lAUREATE

International Telecommunications Specialist for the Deaf

Designated Intersector Coordinator on Accessibility for ISCG 

(ITU-T Intersector Coordination Group)

Chairman JCA-AHF, (Joint Coordinating Activity on Accessibility and Human Factors)

JCA-AHF Rep. to IGF DCAD,  (Internet Government Forum-Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability)

Tel  <tel:+44%201242%20820%20800> +44 1242 820 800 voice land line
mobile  <tel:+%2044%207956%20222916> + 44 7956 222916 (UK) What’s App and SMS

USA Cell mobile  +1 425 233 5308  voice only when in USA. SMS and WhatsApp  
email <mailto:andrea at andreasaks.com> andrea at andreasaks.com 

From: DCAD < <mailto:dcad-bounces at lists.igf-dcad.org> dcad-bounces at lists.igf-dcad.org> On Behalf Of Judith Hellerstein via DCAD
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2024 9:57 PM
To:  <mailto:judith at jhellerstein.com> judith at jhellerstein.com; Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability < <mailto:dcad at lists.igf-dcad.org> dcad at lists.igf-dcad.org>
Cc: Judith Hellerstein < <mailto:judith at jhellerstein.com> judith at jhellerstein.com>; Muhammad Shabbir < <mailto:mshabbirawan at gmail.com> mshabbirawan at gmail.com>; Deirdre Williams < <mailto:williams.deirdre at gmail.com> williams.deirdre at gmail.com>; Lidia Best < <mailto:best.lidia at gmail.com> best.lidia at gmail.com>
Subject: [DCAD] DCAD Session Proposal Reminder due April 26

HI All, 

Just a reminder that all edits on this proposal are due before COB April 26 UTC time.

I will then review it and finalise it so we can submit before the deadline.

Best,

Judith Hellerstein 

DCAD Co-Coordinator 

Sent from my iPad  

 <mailto:judith at jhellerstein.com> judith at jhellerstein.com 

Skype ID:JudithHellerstein

On Apr 17, 2024, at 2:19 AM, Judith Hellerstein via DCAD <dcad at lists.igf-dcad.org <mailto:dcad at lists.igf-dcad.org> > wrote:

HI DCAD Members,

As was discussed on the call, I have begun drafting the session proposal focusing on the third theme, Advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age

I have also copied and pasted the instructions sheet from the IGF about the requirements needed for the session, what type of session, the length of the session, and other required details.  I am attaching this as a Word document, titled Proposal Questions.

As Nicodemus suggested, I have opened a Google Doc so we could collaborate together.  Hopefully the document is accessible to all.  If people have accessibility issues, please do let me know, but I believe since it is straight text there should not be issues. 

Everyone will have commenting access to the document so that I can see the suggestions comments that you are making to the document.  We also need to decide on the type of session, Roundtable, theatre, etc and the length of the session

Also which of the SDG goals do we meet

The shared document can be found here, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t6BDhVk19kGojdaJL6vlx8NPVQFJf9OJ0Xggbw0uIrs/edit?usp=sharing

I look forward to hearing from all

Best,

Judith Hellerstein

DCAD Co-Coordinator

_________________________________________________________________________
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On 4/16/24 8:53 AM, Nicodemus Nyakundi wrote:

Hello Judith,

I was wondering if there is a shared document that we could use to collaborate on drafting the session proposal? If so, would you mind sharing it with me?

Warm regards,

Nicodemus Nyakundi

The IGF 2024 programme will be organized according to the following four  <https://intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2024-themes> subthemes: 

*	Harnessing innovation and balancing risks in the digital space

*	Enhancing the digital contribution to peace, development, and sustainability

*	Advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age

*	Improving digital governance for the Internet We Want

We decided to focus on the 3rd theme.  Advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age.

We look forward to your input and comments

Best,

Judith Hellerstein

DCAD Co-Coordinator

Sent from my iPad  

 <mailto:judith at jhellerstein.com> judith at jhellerstein.com 

Skype ID:JudithHellerstein

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