ICT for All: Training of ICT for Persons with Print Disability
ICT for All: Training of ICT for Persons with Print Disability was held from 16 January - 2 February 2007 at
APCD, Bangkok, Thailand, with 15 participants from 6
countries, namely Cambodia, China, Fiji, Lao PDR,
Mongolia and Thailand.
The objectives were to 1) understand the concept of information accessibility for persons with disabilities, 2) learn current ICT development for all and 3) produce a DAISY multimedia talking book. Participants mainly learned how to produce a digital talking book based on the DAISY standard.
Ms. Miki Azuma, JICA Short-tem Expert, the main resource person taught the basic concept of DAISY, DAISY Consortium and production methods of the DAISY talking book. Mr. Monthian Buntan, APCD resource person and Executive Board member, lectured on the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of PWDs, and the World Summit of Information Society. He talked about how the concept of information accessibility of PWDs has developed and been endorsed by the international community; Ms. Wantanee Panthachat presented recent development on Assistive Technologies for PWDs; Mr. Raksak Chairanjuansakun taught the Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) for the DAISY book production.
Two blind assistants, Mr. Kunchit Kumfong and Mr. Chatupol Nootathong assisted the participants to make their DAISY talking books.
The training concluded with presentations of Action Plans and impressive DAISY talking books. All participants successfully made DAISY talking books in multimedia format including full text, full audio and images. Three participants from China showed exceptional performance. They clearly understood the key points and made precise summaries each day. Moreover, all participants including a Thai participant with autism worked very hard.
Participants also made practical action plans for future development and the production of DAISY talking books, action plans in collaboration with other organizations and participants in order to effectively produce books with other organizations.
APCD is confident that the participants will produce DAISY talking books to empower PWDs and promote a barrier-free environment for all PWDs including persons with print disabilities in their home countries. APCD is eagerly looking forward to hearing good news of their production of DAISY books.
Participants' Interview Corner
CHINA
After I get back to China, I would like to do a summary of the whole training course including
what I have learned as well as how DAISY standards are applied in Thailand and other developing
countries. I will also give suggestions to organizations and persons who work on the production of
Digital Libraries and some other projects to promote DAISY.
LAO PDR
The DAISY topic is quite new for me but it is useful to develop disabled peoples' lives. I will
share knowledge from this training with persons with disabilities in my country especially blind persons
to be able to access information more equally.
THAILAND
Prior to this training, we had a little idea of what ICT for All is and the word DAISY. Now we
realize the importance of it especially for persons with disabilities. So we have planned to promote
DAISY, for example, by teaching our colleagues and volunteers as well as conducting a workshop or
seminar. We also believe that materials can reach persons with different disabilities through DAISY.
