The RPwD Act 2016 requires the Central Government, in consultation with the Chief Commissioner, to establish rules for persons with disabilities to ensure accessibility standards in various areas. Compliance with these standards is outlined in the RPwD Rules under Rule 15. The following guidelines have been notified or are in draft form for public comments:

  • E-prescriptions are to be in an accessible form. The hospital information system and e-pharmacy modules should be designed to produce the soft copies of e-prescriptions in accessible format.
  • Things to consider while communicating:
  1. Address a person with disability by his name, preferably first name.
  2. Do not insist if the person declines your offer of assistance.
  • Communicate with the patient directly rather than speaking through attendant.
  1. Do not feel troubled if you are not clear what to provide to the person, let him/her seek the assistance.
  2. Keep in mind that the person may take longer to respond because of his/her disability so be considerate.
  3. Do not use common expressions that cannot be related to the person in view of his disability.
  • While using ICT for providing information or interacting with a person with disability relevant instructions should be followed.
  • Language to be used:
  1. Language of interaction should be “the person first language” which means that use person before disability so use “person with disability” and not “disabled person.”
  2. Use “person” first while addressing him using the condition from which he is suffering. For example, use “person with cerebral palsy” and not “cerebral palsy person.”
  • According to the UNCRPD document, article 9, people with disabilities have a right to receive accessible information. For that, they require support in getting the required information. The information should be provided in a manner that it is easy to understand so that they are able to make their choices and decisions. Anaccessible information may be provided through websites, publications, social media etc. or through direct meetings. While planning the communication, needs of all the groups of the society are to be considered.
  1. The information being provided to persons with disabilities is required to be easy to understand.
  2. If there is difficulty in understanding, information in an alternative form should be provided.
  • Pictures explaining the information in text are useful.
  1. The language used should be easy to understand, concise, in short paragraphs and maximally legible.
  2. For maximum legibility use appropriate font size and type like Arial or Tahoma fonts.
  3. Be careful with colours, provide adequate contrast between the essential information and its surroundings.
  • The spacing between words, line and paragraphs should make the information easily accessible.
  • It is better not to use decorative text, text in Italics and texts in fonts less than size14.
  1. Lower case letters are easier to read so avoid writing words in all capital letters. Avoid using tables and graphs.
  2. Never use a background that makes it difficult to read the text.
  3. Provide audio file wherever possible.
  • Allow flexibility by letting the users choose they way of accomplishing a task.
  • Website Accessibility
  • For website accessibility, follow the “Guidelines for Indian Govt. Websites (version 2.0)” prepared by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics & Information technology (MeitY), Govt. of India which are available as an integral part of central secretariat manual of Office procedures. Documents to be placed on websites shall be in Electronic Publication (ePUB) or Optical Character Reader (OCR) based Pdf format.
  • Compliance to these guidelines will make the websites accessible to persons with various disabilities like low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, speech disabilities and combinations of these which may otherwise hinder access to the web. Compliance with these guidelines ensures that any disabled person using an assistive technology can easily navigate the website. Compliance matrix lists all the accessibility guidelines in a separate section along with the reference numbers.
  • An accessibility statement should be made conveying the contact information to get the alternate accessible format, support of aid. Provide the publication in HTML format and if possible, in PDF format also. Provide translated version in other commonly used languages.
  • BIS standard for Accessibility for ICT Products and services
  • Considering that digital means of accessing information, registration and payment etc. have become prevalent, these methods must be accessible by compliance of relevant websites, apps, digital documents, and software with the recently published BIS standard IS 17802 on “Accessibility for ICT products and services-Requirements”. These standard updates the accessibility requirements for Web and mobile apps, referred to in GIGW 2.0. Besides these, the standard covers editable and PDF documents, online applications, software for laptop, desktop, smart phone and other devices, broadcasting, two-way communications, support documentation and emergency and relay services (including help desk). Those who have implemented the latter, can migrate to the standard (in specified timeframe). Those who are implementing afresh websites, mobile apps, and online systems, which contain the registration module, payment module etc. can ensure that they are compliant to above specified IS 17802 right from the beginning in respect of all their ICT products and services.
  • Of particular relevance for early implementation are all 51 apps used by citizens/ patients/ caregivers for registration and payment, for consent forms, e-prescription, e-pharmacy, and telemedicine (e-Sanjeevani) etc. As such, all the components of healthcare – preventive, curative and palliative, where ICT interventions are to be used or can be used productively, will benefit by following this standard both in the purchase and use of ICT as it addresses all the disabilities. Another point to note is that the above standard provides support to all Indian languages. As such, local language provision should also be there in all ICT, besides English and Hindi.
  • All mobile apps which are relevant for use of public in general should comply with accessibility standards.
  • BIS standard IS 17802 as of persons with disability:
  • Where ICT products are free-standing or installed, all the elements required for operation will need to be within reach of all users. This is essential for users with limited reach and benefits many more users in different situations.
  • Indian Language: Accessibility support shall be provided in respect of all the features, functions or contents provided by the ICT, in respect of all the Indian languages figuring in the eighth schedule of the Indian constitution. This is essential to support users with disabilities to understand, comprehend, use, and operate the functions of the ICT at the same level or better in these languages.
  • Biometrics: Where ICT uses biological characteristics, it shall not rely on the use of a particular biological characteristic as the only means of user identification or for control of ICT. Where ICT uses biological characteristics, it shall not rely on the use of a particular biological characteristic as the only means of user identification or for control of ICT. Alternative means of user identification or for control of ICT could be non-biometric or biometric.
  • Support Services: Alternative means of user identification or for control of ICT could be non-biometric or biometric. Alternative means of user identification or for control of ICT could be non-biometric or biometric.
  • Effective Communication: ICT support services shall accommodate the communication needs of individuals with disabilities either directly or through a referral point. One of the forms of communication with individuals with disabilities could be choice of Indian language, in whatever form – text, images, video, voice or captioning.
  • Access to Relay Services: One of the forms of communication with individuals with disabilities could be choice of Indian language, in whatever form – text, images, video, voice or captioning. One of the forms of communication with individuals with disabilities could be choice of Indian language, in whatever form – text, images, video, voice or captioning.
  • Access to Emergency Services: Where ICT systems support two-way communication, and the system is specified for use with emergency services, access to those emergency services shall not be prevented for outgoing and incoming calls involving: voice, RTT, or video, either individually or in combinations supported by both the emergency service and the ICT system.
  • Label or Instructions: Any input that requires specific data or format is provided for all users and not only to users without disabilities.