New technologies offer new possibilities and solutions which can waive any restrictions as to the access of people with disabilities to communication, employment, health, education, accessibility and every day life in general…

The new Digital Strategy 2006-2013 includes a group of actionsaimed at improving accessibility of people with disabilities, where concretepractical actions and activities are foreseen in this direction. As recently underlined by the Special Secretary on Information Society, Professor Vassilios Assimakopoulos, “through this Plan, we are endeavoring to create a series of targeted actions covering most of every day life aspects”.

As an example, one of these actions relates to information and entertainment. The General Secretariat on Information is implementing a very important project which foresees the creation of digital content for Public Radio and TV channels (information broadcasts, news, entertainment, cultural programs and sports).

The Special Secretariat on Information Society contributes to this project by procuring the appropriate decoders so as to make it possible for disabled persons and the elderly having sight and hearing problems to have access to this material thanks to oral descriptions, subtitles (written or spoken) and thanks to the use of sign language.

Furthermore, the Action Plan includes interventions relating to education such as:

• The purchase of hardware and network equipment for each category of specific needs and disabilities to be distributed to all Special Education Units and Diagnostic Centers.
• The supply to 76 Public and Municipal Libraries all over the countryof adequate equipment allowing for the use of books and library services by people  with sight problems and people with motor disabilities.
• The granting, for use at home, of hardware and other special equipment to 3040 pupils with disabilities.
• The supply of 72 modern software titles (of General and Special Training) aimed at the horizontal teaching needs of the curriculum in primary and secondary education, in conjunction with training programs for teachers working with people with disabilities, in order to achieve the best use of the  abovementioned software.

The Action Plan also includes actions relating to lifelong learning and the labour market, such as:

• Establishing an “Information Workshop” and a “Lending Library & Reading Room» at the Education and Rehabilitation Center for Blind People.
• A distance training program in ITC, relating to the integration or reintegrationin the labour market of 500 people with disabilities, mainly persons with motor disabilities.
• A training program in basic ITC skills, with the relevant certification, for 750 people with sight problems.

The Action Plan incorporates actions as to the access to public administration and, in particular, in the health sector. The main example is the Invalidity Card for disabled persons, allowing for them to have priority when served by the Public Administration while avoiding them bureaucratic procedures, complications and expenses.

Finally, a useful project: the setting up of a Portal accessible by people with disabilities, which shall collect, classify according to specific criteria and make available e-government services in a digital form and in a user-friendly manner for people with disabilities, with all necessary “tools” to that effect.