Making the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame Walk |
 | | Youth Roundtable Discussion on E-Accessibility |
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World Bank Uganda’s Move to Strengthen Development Dialogue with the Disabled KAMPALA, December 2006 - How can a blind person who has been abused testify in court, when asked to identify the offender they cannot see? Can they present evidence based on voices of the suspects only? Those who have their full sight never think of such dilemmas. But questions like these are what dominated a roundtable discussion for youth with disabilities to mark the International Day of Disability in Uganda, November 29th 2006. If you thought that youths with disabilities cannot be actively engaged in the development process, then think again. Over 30 enthusiastic youths with disabilities in Uganda gathered in the World Bank’s Public Information Center for the Bank-sponsored annual roundtable discussion last week. This year’s discussion centered on E-accessibility: Challenges and Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in Uganda. This was a build-up to the national celebrations of the International Day of Disability, which was held in Eastern Uganda, December 3, 2006. Most of the youths who turned up for the roundtable this year were university students pursuing different degree programs despite their being either deaf or blind, and/or having physical disabilities. Whereas elsewhere they are called ‘disabled people’, the Ugandan youths are quick to always correct the impression that they are disabled, but rather they have some disabilities. This makes a lot of sense. We had sign language interpreters at hand to make the deaf hear, presentations printed out in Braille to make the blind see and ensured that those with physical disabilities had reasonable comfort as the day proceeded. The kind of debate and the enthusiasm in their eyes as they discussed the issues affecting them was proof that youth with disabilities have a lot to contribute to the development process in Uganda. The roundtable was set in motion with three brief presentations: One by the line ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development; one by the World Bank Communications team on the services, including Assistive technologies, that can be accessed by persons with disabilities in the Public Information Center; and a third presentation was made by National Youth Council. The Government acknowledged that they faced several challenges in providing ICT services to persons with disabilities, most especially because the equipment needed is very expensive. They are however promoting sign language, Braille and tactile in schools.  | | Participants at a videoconference |
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The presentations provoked a lively discussion that generally agreed that the government, civil society organizations and the private sector should partner in ensuring that persons with disabilities have the necessary facilities that will allow them to be competitive in the E-society. “In the same way that Government gives incentives to private investors, they should also provide incentives for both public and private entities to promote participation of persons with disabilities in development,” said Florence Ndagiire, a law student at Makerere University. The representative of the National Youth Council, Ambrose Murangira, called on the youths to form stronger partnerships to champion their cause. “Persons with disabilities need to form stronger partnerships with development partners, NGOs, CSOs and the private sector to ensure greater inclusiveness and that the Disability agenda becomes a priority for action.” Though Uganda is one of the countries well advanced in affirmative action for persons with disabilities, a lot still needs to be done for inclusiveness of persons with disabilities in the development agenda. Most buildings in Uganda, for example, are not adapted to the disabled, the public telephones have no facilities for the visually impaired, and few schools have the necessary facilities to support persons with disabilities. Uganda passed a law forming the National Council for Disability in 2003. Three years later, in 2006, Uganda formulated an empowering National Policy on Disability and passed the Persons with Disabilities Act. Uganda is also one of the few countries that has a minister of state for Disabilities and five members of parliament representing persons with disabilities, including one woman representative. Despite these great strides, the youth with disabilities pointed out that they are not yet involved in policy formulation, which sometimes leads to inappropriate policies that disfavor them. “Charity should begin at home. Government offices for a start should have computers and software that are accessible persons with disabilities and every government building should be physically accessible with ramps/lifts for persons with disabilities,” said Ronald Luyiima, one of the blind participants. The deaf participants agreed to lobby for sign language to be introduced on some key television programs like news, and they also undertook to campaign that all national librarians should be trained in sign language. There was a general appreciation of efforts of the World Bank in facilitating the roundtable each year and providing assistive technologies for the visually impaired. “ICT for visually impaired persons is the lifeline. Things which are not electronic are no longer being manufactured so we need to move on with the era because young learners are missing out,” said Benon Ndaziboneye, one of the frequent users of the Assistive Technologies at the World Bank. The enthusiasm did not die down throughout the day. The youths, with their Members of Parliament in collaboration with the Disability Council, have undertaken to write a project proposal for promote e-accessibility for persons with disabilities. They also undertook to lobby the private sector in promoting disability programs as part of their Corporate Social responsibility  | | A Visually Impaired University Student, Jean Longo |
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The afternoon featured a Video Conference with Washington DC where Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Africa Region Disability Team Coordinator made a presentation that generated many interesting questions. She revealed that the UN, with approval of the African Union had launched the period 2000-2009 as the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities. The initiative aims at full participation, equality, and empowerment of people with disabilities. Up to 60 million of Sub-Saharan Africa’s 200 million young people between the ages of 12 and 24 have a disability. McClain-Nhlapo asked the youths with disabilities to get more involved in development dialogue, hold policy makers accountable and invited them to join the Global Partnership on Disability and Development. The day-long discussions ended with the Uganda Disability Council undertaking to follow-up on the issues discussed, particularly to sensitize persons with disabilities on e-accessibility and how to lobby for greater inclusiveness. The members of parliament representing persons with disabilities also promised to follow up with the Disability Council and ensure review of the International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities before it is ratified. - | 
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