Draft ECOWAS ICT Accessibility Policy (2018) v1 post Burkina Faso and Gambia Workshops applications, and content provided to the public irrespective of the distribution, delivery mechanism, platform or technology on which it is provided; Member States shall put in place measures and strategies to ensure that there is awareness of this policy. Awareness must be raised within the public, broadcasting service provides, Electronic Programming Guide and program listing providers, platform providers and disability groups all of whom must work together to publicize the information and facilities available on television, radio and EPGs to assist disabled people. Where applicable, public information on e-Accessibility of broadcasting services should using the following symbols to denote accessibility - subtitling (S), signing (SL) and audio description (AD). These abbreviations should be explained in public communications and should be explained in an appropriate part of the EPG. Broadcasters in the region should, to the extent technically possible, deliver Closed Captioning/ Subtitling, Sign language, and Audio Description which are services that will benefit PWD and enable them to have access to broadcasting services. The use of open standardised systems is encouraged. Furthermore, the use of local languages is promoted. Government and Broadcasters should monitor the effectiveness of the service through contact with organizations representing people with disabilities. For viewers who are blind or have low vision, television programmes should be made accessible through the provision of audio description/dubbing in an official language of the country. The language of the AD should be the same as the program audio. For countries that use subtitling rather than dubbing when offering television programmes in foreign languages, viewers who are blind or have low vision, as well as individuals with cognitive impairments or those who have a low reading speed can benefit from audio subtitles. Given that signing is different from one country or region to another, in the same way that oral languages and dialects differ. In bi- or multilingual countries, open signing represents a challenge. Any open sign language requirements, must be subject to public consultation to devise a mechanism to provide signing in a manner that meets the needs of the public. Providers of broadcasting equipment must ensure that viewers who are deaf or hard-ofhearing who use hearing aids, will able to hear the programme aided by the use of wireless connections between the television receiver and the hearing aid itself, or, wired connections between the TV receiver and an assistive listening device that a consumer chooses. 19