Thanks to the incorporation of the AccessCat Network into the United Nations agency for information and communication technologies last May (ITU – International Telecommunication Union), researchers in the AccessCat Network have the chance to transfer their research results in terms of accessibility by participating in the creation of recommendations, high-level documents, and standards.

Andy Quested, accessibility expert at the ITU, has provided training for members of the AccessCat Network to examine the many lines of collaboration available to researchers. In a virtual session, Quested spoke about the history and importance/significance of the ITU (founded in 1865) and gave an overview of its general operation.

Next, he highlighted the importance of accessibility in the agency’s work: its goal, shared with the AccessCat Network, is digital equality for all, regardless of their abilities.

Finally, Quested expounded the process on how to submit proposals to this international body, which is materialised through several study groups, divided into three sectors: radiocommunication (ITU-R), standardisation of telecommunication (ITU-T), and development of telecommunication (ITU-D).