In June this year NUDIPU and Eight Tech Consults Limited with support from Uganda Communications Commission
under the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF)carried out a needs assessment on how persons with disabilities have used assistive technologies or how they can adopt assistive technology.
From the assessment the following were the challenges for persons with disabilities to do common digital tasks-
➡️ High cost of data, limiting them to have access & also navigate the internet
➡️Power instabilities especially those in rural areas
➡️Lack of training to use digital devices like smart phones
➡️Limited knowledge to use the digital devices
➡️Difficulty in using computers
➡️Affordability of digital devices is a
➡️challenge to some persons with disabilities.
Recommendations by persons with disabilities on what they what to learn
➡️Basics to use digital devices like smart phones
➡️ Basic Computer applications
➡️Social media usage
➡️Online communication
➡️How to tap into digital marketing
➡️Access to electronic financial services
Some Trainers of Trainees (TOTs)have been taken through the different soft wares that can help persons with disabilities use assistive technology to roll out the trainings with selected persons with disabilities from 27 pilot districts starting from Monday 8th July 2024.
Among these soft wares that persons with disabilities can use to ease their lives especially the visually impaired include jaws,talk back,read my notes, be my eyes etc.
About 12.4% of total population persons with disabilities (2014 census).
As the Trainers of Trainees (TOTs) rollout to train persons with disabilities in the districts they should be in position to support persons with disabilities to learn the different assistive technologies.
“We can’t leave out such a population especially where technology is important. We don’t want to leave no one behind. Thanks to UCC for supporting persons with disabilities also benefit from technology,” – shares Chris Ninsiima Director Programmes NUDIPU.
