Kuwait city: The Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA) and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) GCC Chapter have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing the Kuwaiti national framework for digital access for people with disabilities. This collaboration involves the Central Agency for Informational Technology (CAIT).
According to Kuwait News Agency, PADA's Chief Specialist Engineer Amna Safar emphasized that the MoU is designed to improve the accessibility of applications and services for individuals with disabilities. The National Code for Digital Framework, which was initially launched in 2018, is set to receive updates to better serve this segment of society, addressing challenges faced in accessing smart devices and websites.
Safar stated that training courses and programs will be implemented for government entities in collaboration with CAIT to support the update, aligning with Kuwait Vision 2035, particularly within the realm of digital transformation. Mohammad Ashkanani, CEO of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) GCC Chapter, noted that the MoU aims to empower people with disabilities to independently use electronic services and standardize the usage of websites and government applications.
Ashkanani highlighted the necessity of training both government and private sector staff to achieve the goal of standardization by 2026, especially for applications like the Sahel government services application. Concurrently, CAIT's Chief Specialist for Digital Services, Wafaa Al-Otaibi, reiterated the authority's commitment to aiding the government's digital transformation efforts.
Al-Otaibi disclosed that CAIT has proactively coordinated with government entities to incorporate the National Framework for Digital Access within its 2026-27 budget, ensuring readiness to update services and websites. Numerous meetings have been held with government entities, with CAIT continuing to update the framework to cater to the needs of all citizens and residents.