Information and Communication Technology for Visually Impaired Persons (ICT for VIPs) Training
15 November - 8 December 2005
ICT for VIPs Training
consisted of 16 participants from
8 countries, namely Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji,
Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and
Thailand.
Participants were computer teachers or ICT training staff of organizations of/for VIPs, and are expected to be able to 1) teach computer operation to visually impaired persons with assistive devices/software 2) design appropriate computer training for visually impaired persons, and 3) understand the concept of information accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs) based on universal design principles.
Mr. Toshiaki Aomatsu, JICA expert and teacher at a
School for the Blind in Japan, taught Altair for Windows.
This software is free and developed by a Japanese blind
person, Mr. Jun Ishikawa. It has editing, emailing and
browsing functions, supported by a self-voicing system.
If Altair is installed in a computer, blind persons can enjoy these 3 functions for free. For further information about
Altair, please refer to http://www.normanet.ne.jp/~altair/index_e.html.
Of the 16 participants and 1 observer, 9 persons were blind and 2 partially sighted including 7 females. Mr. MD. Ihsan Fayaz, President of the Afghanistan National Association for the Blind supported by UNDP Afghanistan, participated in the training.
Five VIPs from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka participated, where NGO emphasize ICT accessibility for PWDs.
Ms. Tsheing Lhamo, and Mr. Pema Gyeltshen from the National Institute for the Disabled (NID) in Bhutan promised to boost ICT for VIPs. Even though the NID is in a very remote place, they say ICT and Internet for PWDs is needed.
Mr. Fuata Faktaufon, from the United Blind Persons of Fiji, Mr. Fandy Dawenan, from the Indonesian Blind Union of South Sulawesi, and Mr. Furgel Lama, National Association for the Welfare of the Blind were very committed to the course.
The Training culminated with the presentations of the participants' Action Plans on Computer Training for VIPs in their respective countries.
APCD believes that the training participants will be Agents of Change in promoting and advocating ICT and, empowering VIPs in their countries.
Resource Persons & Participants' Interviews
- Mr. Toshiaki Aomatsu
JICA Short-term Expert -
I was most impressed by the attitudes and eagerness of all the trainees to learn about ICT
for VIPs. Although the levels of knowledge and skills of the trainees were somewhat different,
they helped each other and each person tried his/her best to follow the curriculum. Even after
each day's session many of them stayed at least several hours to do self-study. I am sure they
will become good ICT trainers for VIPs in their countries. - Mr. Furgel Lama, Nepal
-
I am very much impressed by the instructors and the training
conducted by APCD. I hope that I will get such opportunities in the future as well.
Actually, training for VIPs is very essential for developing countries. I have gained a lot
of experience regarding ICT. So, I am very much impressed by this training. I will share
my knowledge with the VIPs in my country. I am in the stage of learning. That's why I like
to participate in such programmes. - Mr. Wiraman Niyomphol
Resource Person, Thailand -
Information and Communication
Technology is becoming more and more
important for visually impaired persons
today. The key thing here is to gain
access to information. The use of computers and connecting
to the Internet (using email and visiting web sites) are
very essential skills for visually impaired persons to master.
It is very important to train as many visually impaired persons
as possible in many countries in the Asia and Pacific
region. This training is just one attempt to do that. The
participants from this training need to go back to carry
on further training in their respective countries. They
also need to grow individually by networking with
others in their countries and at the international level to
collaborate in this ICT for VIP training effort. - Mr. Pema Gyeltshen, Bhutan
-
Dear friends, (VIPs in the
Asia-pacific region), there is nothing
to worry about ourselves being left
out of the ICT world. In reality, there
is full scope for us to be given equal
access to ICT like sighted persons
have. We are drawing strength in our ICT programme
with the development of modern technology. So, in order
to make ICT accessible for us, we must have strong
determination to have computer literacy. With computer
skills, we can do everything that sighted persons can
do in the field of ICT. The most important thing we
can do is first let us have the computer training and
sufficiently practice ourselves and do a lot of exploration
on whatever we were taught during the training. So,
let us all work harder to make our dreams come true.
