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3
DEFINITIONS 9
"Accessibility"10
"Communication" includes oral-aural communication, communication using
sign language, tactile communication, Braille, large print, audio, accessible
multimedia, human reader and other augmentative or alternative modes of communication,
including accessible information and communication technology.11
"Disability"12
"Persons with disability"13
"Discrimination on the ground
of disability"14
"Language" includes oral-aural
language and sign language.15 "Reasonable
accommodation"16
"Universal Design", and
"Inclusive design".17
Footnotes:
9: In the consideration of this article,
the Ad Hoc Committee may wish to take into account the different proposals that
were presented to the Committee and the Working Group regarding the specific
definitions of the concepts herein contained.
10: The need for a definition of "accessibility"
and the content of any definition will depend on the outcome of the discussion
in the Ad Hoc Committee on draft Article 19 on accessibility.
11: The
Ad Hoc Committee may wish to consider the need for a definition of "communication"
(separate from draft Article 13 on Freedom of Expression and Opinion) and, if
so, the content of that definition.
12:
Many members of the Working Group emphasised that a convention should protect
the rights of all persons with disabilities (i.e. all different types of disabilities)
and suggested that the term "disability" should be defined broadly.
Some members were of the view that no definition of 'disability' should be included
in the convention, given the complexity of disability and the risk of limiting
the ambit of the convention. Other delegations pointed to existing definitions
used in the international context including the World Health Organisation's
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). There
was general agreement that if a definition was included, it should be one that
reflects the social model of disability, rather than the medical model.
13:
Some members of the Working Group considered that it was more important to include
this definition than the definition of "disability". Other members
were of the view that a definition of this term was not necessary.
14:
This definition is addressed in draft Article 7 on Equality and Non-Discrimination.
The Ad Hoc Committee may wish to consider the best placement for this definition.
15:
Some delegations were of the view that the separate draft articles of the Convention
specify that language included sign language, and questioned the need for this
definition in the present article. Others expressed the view that the definition
was needed.
16:
The definition of this concept was not discussed beyond the definition that
is included in draft Article 7, although the Working Group considered necessary
to include it.
17:
These definitions were not discussed but the Working Group considered that they
would be useful.