Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Statement As Prepared for Delivery by Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, Sara Minkara
Delegation of the United States of America
Human Rights Council – 49th Session
March 14, 2022
We thank you, Mr. Vice President and Special Rapporteur.
Artificial Intelligence can significantly help persons with disabilities navigate the physical and virtual worlds.
The ability to access jobs, finances, public services, and education makes AI access and accountability an imperative. Persons with disabilities must be involved in decision making, the designing, the testing, and the implementation of AI programs to ensure all policies and programs are inclusive.
Persons with disabilities are further marginalized by age, race, religion, ethnicities, gender, LGBTQI+ status, indigenous origin, and other elements of identities. We recognize the need to ensure persons with multiple intersecting identities to be testing, designing, and informing AI policies and programs.
The U.S. delegation is Co-Chair of the Accessibility Steering Committee. We are working on several projects to fully integrate delegates with disabilities into the UN’s work, including all applications using AI delegates use to do their work.
Question: Is there an update about the HRC Accessibility task force’s efforts to make sure all AI accessible for all HRC delegates, including platforms such as e-delegate?
Thank you so much.
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