CRPD/C/GC/4 Accessibility 22. Consistent with article 9 of the Convention and with the Committee’s general comment No. 2 (2014) on accessibility, educational institutions and programmes must be accessible to everyone, without discrimination. The entire education system must be accessible, including buildings, information and communications tools (comprising ambient or frequency modulation assistive systems), the curriculum, educational materials, teaching methods, assessments and language and support services. The environment of students with disabilities must be designed to foster inclusion and guarantee their equality throughout their education. 8 For example, school transportation, water and sanitation facilities (including hygiene and toilet facilities), school cafeterias and recreational spaces should be inclusive, accessible and safe. States parties must commit to the prompt introduction of universal design. States parties should prohibit and sanction the building of any future education infrastructure that is inaccessible and establish an efficient monitoring mechanism and time frame for rendering all existing education environments accessible. States parties must also commit to the provision of reasonable accommodation in education environments when so required. The universal design approach does not exclude the provision of assistive devices, applications and software to those learners with disabilities who may require them. Accessibility is a dynamic concept and its application requires periodic regulatory and technical adjustments. States parties must ensure that the rapid development of innovations and new technologies designed to enhance learning are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities. 23. The Committee highlights the widespread lack of textbooks and learning materials in accessible formats and languages, including sign language. States parties must invest in the timely development of resources in ink or Braille and in digital formats, including through the use of innovative technology. They should also consider developing standards and guidelines for the conversion of printed material into accessible formats and languages and making accessibility a central aspect of education-related procurement. The Committee calls upon States parties to urgently ratify and implement the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled. 24. Accessibility requires that education at all levels be affordable for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation should not entail additional costs for learners with disabilities. Compulsory, quality, free and accessible primary education is an immediate obligation. In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, States parties must progressively adopt measures to ensure that all children, including children with disabilities, complete free, equitable and quality secondary education and to ensure equal access for all women and men with disabilities to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university, and lifelong learning. States parties must ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access education in both public and private academic institutions on an equal basis with others. Acceptability 25. Acceptability is the obligation to design and implement all education-related facilities, goods and services taking fully into account and respecting the requirements, cultures, views and languages of persons with disabilities. The form and substance of education provided must be acceptable to all. States parties must adopt affirmative action measures to ensure that education is of good quality for all. 9 Inclusion and quality are 8 9 Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, general comment No. 2. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 13. 7

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