Eight Tech Consults Limited teamed up with the National Union of Disabled Persons Of Uganda (NUDIPU) and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) at The Continuing Agricultural Education Center (CAEC) Kabanyolo for a 3-day design thinking workshop to further understand and appreciate the UCC/UCUSAF grant aimed at promoting digital inclusiveness for Persons with Disabilities through the use of ICT enabled technologies. We are cognizant of the plight of the Persons with disabilities, which is why we partake in innovations that aim at enhancing knowledge management, ICT Adaption, digital skills and access to E-Services for Persons with Disabilities.
Pursuant to sustaining a just and fair society where people with disabilities live a prosperous and dignified life, we are prompted to understand and agree that embracing digital technologies will enhance knowledge management and ICT adoption and must be one of the key priorities to pay utmost attention to if we are to be progressive. Issues discussed during the 3-day the design thinking workshop were typically aimed at providing important means of reducing barriers to ICT access for the disabled, The discussion was pivoted to the anchor objectives of this initiative which are;
- To develop and operationalize a National digital observatory (database) for Persons With Disabilities
- To mobilize and create awareness of ICT access and potential among various categories of Persons With Disabilities.
- To establish baseline of Persons With Disabilities digital inclusiveness in e-services access, technology, content, and information needs for various categories of Persons With Disabilities across the country
These objectives are envisaged to clearly highlight on the gaps and proposed solutions to the usage and access of digital technologies among Persons With Disabilities, Come up with an operational National PWD Digital Observatory System which will profile PWDs inform of a National digital register housed to be by NUDIPU, peer collaboration and peer learning, PWD initiatives, PWD member organization database/register, data visualization engine, online counselling for PWDs and caregivers. The Innovation is also aimed at skilling several Persons with Disabilities in the use of ICT and related digital technologies.
Digital inclusion is a dream we all must fight to see come true, But all have to realize it’s only possible if we are all part of it.
During the work-shop, a team comprising of key stakeholders who are Eight Tech, NUDIPU, UCC using a knowledge co-creation approach created a research design and developed the modules to be cased by the digital observatory. As Henry Ford stated “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” We need to come together and stay dedicated to promote digital inclusiveness for Persons with Disabilities through the use of ICT enabled technologies and enhancing knowledge management, ICT Adaption, digital skills and access to E-Services for Persons with Disabilities
Innovating for future generations