The research consists of a holistic assessment of existing European initiatives that contribute to improving the mobility of disabled students in the context of higher education and Lifelong Learning in Europe. It looks at the opportunities offered by the European Commission’s education and training initiatives, especially the Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci and Marie Curie programmes, and how they can improve disabled students’ mobility. It describes Fundación ONCE’s participation in a Marie Curie RTN with a disabled researcher in the field of Accessible Technology in the context of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The current legislative and normative framework is analysed, with especial attention being paid to the European Mandate 420 guidelines on accessibility requirements for procurement in the built environment. This section analyses the innovation introduced by the Spanish Law 4/2007 on Universities regarding accessibility to facilities and information, with Fundación ONCE’s “Info-accessibility Plans for Universities”. Finally, it stresses the importance of electronic accessibility and accessible eLearning initiatives in mainstreaming disabled people in the European Higher Education Area and overcoming the existing barriers that limit disabled students’ mobility. This section presents the good practice case of the Online Master in Accessible Technologies, sponsored by Fundación ONCE, and which in the past two years has trained over 100 disabled students over an accessible eLearning platform, enhancing their opportunities for finding work in Spain’s technology sector. Finally, it highlights the variety of existing initiatives aimed at improving disabled students’ mobility in Europe, pointing out that for such initiatives to have an optimum impact it is still necessary to improve the co-ordination between the Commission’s initiatives and the Member States, guaranteeing access to the physical space through European and national legislation, and boosting electronic accessibility to ensure full integration of disabled students in the knowledge society.

1. Assessment of the main initiatives aimed at improving the mobility of disabled students in Europe Dr. Jose Angel Martínez Usero Director of International Projects and Relations at Technosite Jesús Hernandez Director of Universal Accessibility at ONCE Foundation

2. ONCE is a non-profit corporate organisation that focuses its activities on the improvement of the quality of life of people with blindness or severe visual impairment from all over Spain. The social responsibility of ONCE is materialised via the activities carried out by the ONCE Foundation , which receives secured financial support of 3% of the Organisation’s gross sales of lottery products. The ONCE Foundation mission : that rights of people with disabilities would not just be wishful thinking but would become a reality. Two pillars: training and employment Technosite is the ICT company of Fudosa Group, belonging to ONCE Foundation Organisational background 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria

3. European programmes of student mobility European initiatives in legislation and standarisation of built environment European initiatives in accessible transport Accessible technology solutions: good practice cases A holistic approach 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria

4. Erasmus Leonardo da Vinci Marie Curie Action : Technosite as partner of a Marie Curie RTN on accessibility policy, fostering the mobility of disabled researchers in the field of Accessible Technology European programmes of student mobility 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria

5. European Mandate 420 on accessibility requirements for procurement in the built environment. Coordination with Member States initiatives Example : Spanish Law 4/2007 on Universities, regarding accessibility to facilities and information. Action : ONCE Foundation is fostering and co-financing “Info-accessibility Plans for Universities”. European initiatives in legislation and standarisation in the built environment 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria

6. Your passenger rights The EU has committed itself to placing users at the heart of transport policy. Action: Technosite’s preliminary assessment on web accessibility Website: “Your passenger rights at hand”. Date : July 5, 2010 URL: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/passenger-rights Target accessibility level: WCAG 1.0 and 2.0 AA. Results : important accessibility barriers European initiative in accessible transport 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria

7. Key aspect for ensuring massive participation of disabled students in the European Higher Education Area Accessible elearning platforms can contribute to overcome the existing barriers that limit disabled students’ mobility. Risks : social exclusion, lack of F2F interaction, non-accessible social networking applications and web 2.0 tools. Action : The good practice case of the UOC-Technosite Online Master in Accessible Technologies, sponsored by Fundación ONCE. More info at: http://www.epractice.eu/en/cases/masteruoctechnosite Electronic accessibility and accessible eLearning 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria

12. European Study on Monitoring eAccessibility in Europe European Study on Costs and Benefits of eAccessibility European Pilot on Accessible and Personalised Self-Service Terminals European Thematic Network on ATs and Inclusive Solutions + European portal Our efforts to foster eaccessibility in Europe 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria

13. Monitoring eAccessibility in Europe 2009-2011 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria Project co-ordinator: Jose Angel Martínez Usero Leader: Technosite Partners: NOVA, CNIPA http://www.eaccessibility-monitoring.eu

14. Study on costs and benefits of eAccessibility 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria Project co-ordinator: Jose Angel Martínez Usero Leader: Technosite Partners: Tech4i2, Abilitynet http://www.eaccessibility-impacts.eu

15. Budget: circa 10 M€ Project co-ordinator: Jose Angel Martínez Usero Leader: Technosite Partners: Barclays, la Caixa, Hoelf&Wessel… European Pilot on Accessible and Personalised SST 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria

16. Budget: circa 500.000 € Project co-ordinator: Jose Angel Martínez Usero Leader: Technosite Partners: (EDF, AGE, EPR, RIM, Microsoft, Mozilla, CERT/ITI, AbilityNet, Braillenet, EFD, Politecnico di Milano, CURE, …. Up to 20) European Thematic Network on ATs 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability. July 20-23, 2010. Innsbruck, Austria

17. Thank you for your attention Keep in touch! Dr. Jose Angel Martínez Usero Director of International Projects and Relations at Technosite [email_address] INREDIS project http://www.inredis.es Monitoring eAccessibility in Europe http://www.eaccessibility-monitoring.eu Study on Economic Assessment for Improving e-Accessibility Services and Products http://www.eaccessibility-impacts.eu eAcessibility community in ePractice http://www.epractice.eu/community/eaccessibility Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/martinezusero Contact me on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/martinezusero Skype: martinezusero