Leaders for digital inclusion of persons with disability

African countries have been urged to ensure digital accessibility and inclusivity for persons with disability (PWD).

Speaking during the 5th Inclusive Africa Conference 2024 at Radisson Blue Hotel in Nairobi, Tuesday, Nominated Senator Crystal Asige, an advocate for disability accessibility, emphasized the importance of embedding and anchoring ICT standards in legislative frameworks.

“People with virtual impairment, with the new technology they can do well. We are one step forward in terms of inclusion as I have been able to embed and anchor the ICT KEBS standards that inAble Launched in 2022 in my role as a senator,” Asige said.

She faulted the transport and manufacturing industries for not taking PWDs into consideration saying for decades it has been discriminatory.

“I coined the term VIP meaning Visually Impaired Passenger which has now been widely used. This shows that impact can be made with a little more effort in advocating for inclusivity for the differently abled persons,” Asige said.

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The Nominated senator stressed the role of political leaders and corporate entities in championing inclusivity and shaping a more accessible society.

"We need more inclusive champions in the non-disabled persons to be the voice of Disability Accessibility including political leaders and key corporates so as to shape discourse and influence policy and decisions,” she said.

Philip Thigo, the Special Envoy on Technology from the office of the President, raised concerns over the impact, challenges, and way forward for technology in Kenya and the region.

"The future is not yet shaped. Through collaboration, advocacy, and innovation, you need to affirm our dedication to leaving no one behind in the digital age,” he said.

Thigo called for more inclusive champions, both within the disabled community and among non-disabled individuals, to shape discourse and influence policy effectively.

One significant partnership highlighted during the conference was Google's collaboration in providing 700 Chromebook computers for children.

These devices promise to revolutionise education, particularly for visually impaired students, offering them independence and access to a wealth of information previously unavailable to them.

“Chrome books ensure learners have independence in class and communicate on their own independently. This is a win for us,” Asige said.

Mohamed Dhaouafi of Cure Bionics Tunisia highlighted the necessity for common ground between investors and regulators to minimise risks and boost success rates for startups in the assistive technology sector.

“The public must hear our voices & grasp the significance of an inclusive society. There should be a common ground for investors and regulators to minimise risks and increase chances of success for startups,” Dhaouafi said.

InAble Kenya Chief Executive Director Irene Mbari announced plans to empower youth with disabilities by providing them with tools and resources to become champions in their own right.

“We aspire to a future where disability inclusion will be seamless. People with disability are not looking for pity but inclusion,” Mbari said.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to every partner, sponsors and supporters for your invaluable contributions.”

Mbari underscored the importance of creating a seamless environment for disability inclusion, where individuals are celebrated for their strengths and resilience rather than defined by their limitations.

“In a world that often defines people by their limitations, we choose to celebrate our strengths, our resilience, and our boundless potential,” she said.

“Over the last three years this event has created a platform for disability and assistive technology for persons with disabilities to ensure that African youth with disabilities are at the centre of digital accessibility conversations,” she added.

The conference attracted more than 2,000 delegates including policymakers, innovators, disability rights advocates and educators.

Key themes included fostering inclusive policies, mobile assistive technology, inclusive education, employment opportunities, and accessible tourism.

The event served as a platform for showcasing cutting-edge innovations in assistive technology through the AT Village, uniting over 20 innovators from across Africa in a collective effort to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities.