A better quality of life for the blind

If the aim of ICTs within development is to provide access and resources for all, this of course should include those with disabilities. I recently covered a story for Grocott’s Mail about the South African Library for the Blind (Blindlib) conference held in Grahamstown earlier this month.

The conference focused on discussion and networking around issues concerning the blind, with the purpose of promoting national and international cooperation in the field. The conference, and the organisation as a whole, encourages research and development, “thus improving the access of information for the blind and other people with print disabilities”.

What really struck me is the issue of access, and the role which better ICTs and bandwidth will play in giving those in developing nations access to technology and programs for the blind. The issue was addressed by a couple of the key delegates such as Hiroshi Kawamura, project leader of DAISY for All (Digital Accessible Information Systems) and the Urakawa Project in Japan.

Organiser of the conference, Wendy Ling, noted while there was no doubting the progressive and high quality nature of the technologies exhibited at the conference, there is a difficulty with regard to access which is a symptom of the “first world, third world divide”. However, she said simply knowing about what technologies exist, even if they are unable to gain access to them immediately, was still positive for developing nations as it “gives them something to work towards”.

This issue of access to computers and the Internet - and also mobile phones - was addressed by Kawamura and others. Kawamura explained that “the expansion of broadband will play a role in increasing access to technologies for the blind” while Richard Tucker from the UK noted the role which mobile phones could potentially play in aiding the blind.

I am thankful for witnessing this conference as it introduced me to an area of ICTs for development I had not previously considered: the role they could potentially play in dramatically increasing the quality of life for those with disabilities. Through having access to a computer and other such important technologies, those who are visually impaired living in poor, often rural areas could be given a greater chance to stand on their own and live independently, enabling them to read, write and learn unaided.

Some investigating showed me there are in fact organisations working to provide ICTs for the blind. In fact, at a glance it seems Ethiopia is the country where the most movement is happening in Africa to help the blind, although Neville Clarence Technologies has recently opened an ICT Skills Development Centre in Pretoria, South Africa. In Ethiopia, the Adaptive Technology Centre for the Blind (ATCB) is doing amazing work to “empower the blind community with technological approaches in attitudes and self-confidence”.

It seems that access to ICTs for the disabled needs to become a priority in developing countries around the world. Ling from the South African Libraries for the Blind, says there is currently a worldwide move to help Africa come up to speed with other developed nations already benefiting from nearly full access to technologies. Lets hope such promises reap actual results and rewards.