Building Capacity for Harnessing ICTs for Disempowered / Marginalised Communities in Sri Lanka e-NABLE - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Building Capacity for Harnessing ICTs for Disempowered / Marginalised Communities in Sri Lanka e-NABLE

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... 02 Universities, 17 Vocational training ... * Future Activities Training the Trainer programme Software/Application Development Arranging an ICT Quiz ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Building Capacity for Harnessing ICTs for Disempowered / Marginalised Communities in Sri Lanka e-NABLE


1
Building Capacity for Harnessing ICTs for
Disempowered / MarginalisedCommunities in Sri
Lanka e-NABLE
  • Jagath Ratnayake
  • Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri
    Lanka
  • -ITU Workshop on Accessibility to ICTs, 23 July
    -2010 ,Shanghai, China-

2
Overview
  • e-NABLE Project
  • Problems
  • Current status
  • Future Trends
  • Conclusion
  • Short Video Clip

3
e-NABLE Project
  • In 2005, the Telecommunications Regulatory
    Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) - the national
    regulatory agency for telecommunications, with
    the assistance of telecommunications operators in
    Sri Lanka initiated a project called e-NABLE.
  • The project serves as a critical enabler for
    socio-economic development of marginalized people
    and/or persons with disabilities in accessing
    to Information and Communication Technologies
    (ICTs) education by creating an equitable
    information society.
  • By implementing the project, ICTs use for
    empowerment of disadvantaged citizens,
    marginalized communities.

4
e-NABLE Project
  • In 2006, TRCSL submitted a project proposal to
    the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
    and ITU provided financial and technical
    assistance in implementing the ICTs for
    Disempowered Marginalized Communities in Sri
    Lanka as part of the e-NABLE initiative.
  • The TRCSL, conducted a study through a survey
    from 32 institutions including special schools,
    Vocational Training Centres (VTCs), villages, and
    other related places for people with special
    needs administered by Government and Non
    Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
  • The objective of the study was to identify
    problems and needs of ICT in those institutions
    and communities.

5
ICT Needs / Problems
  • Most schools and VTCs had introduced ICT in their
    education programme with only one or two used
    computers.
  • These computers are maintained and operated using
    their own limited funds.
  • These schools and centres have a common problem
    of competent teachers/ instructors.
  • Need of proper training for teachers/instructors
    as well as increasing the number of qualified
    trainers.

6
ICT Needs/Problems
  • Following ICT equipment were required for schools
    and centres
  • Computers or laptops with accessories
  • Printers, scanners, photocopiers, facsimile
    machines
  • TVs and VCD/DVD players
  • Multimedia projectors
  • Internet and email facilities
  • Computer networks
  • Separate computer rooms with air conditioning
    systems
  • Computer tables and chairs
  • ICT educational materials for their libraries
  • Most importantly, the following assistive devices
    were very much in need
  • Braille printers
  • Hearing aids (e.g. FM group hearing system)
  • Specially developed software for persons with
    disabilities e.g. speaking computer software

7
Present StatusDisable Persons by Type of
Disability,Census of Population Housing-
2001-Sri Lanka (18 Districts)
 Type of Disability  Male  Female Total
Disability in Seeing 35,419 33,677 69,096
Disability in Hearing/ Speaking 40,458 32,759 73,343
Disability in Hands 31,070 17,061 48,131
Disability in Legs    56,529 34,047 90,576
Other physical Disabilities 7,344 5,931 13,275
Mental Disability 37,181 31,845 69,026
 Total 158,446 116,265 274,711
Source Department of Census and Statistics
8
Current Status of the National/ Provincial
Schools with Special Educations Unit , Special
Schools and Vocational Training Centres in Sri
Lanka
Source Ministry of Education Non Formal
Education Unit , Dept. of Social service
9
Ranaviru Villages in Sri Lanka(Special needs
soldiers villages) as at December 2009
Province No of Ranaviru Villages Dwelled No of Families
Western 12 1123
Central 04 117
Southern 07 327
North Central 05 1783
Eastern 01 25
North Western 04 140
Uva 03 72
Sabaragamuwa 02 85
Total 38 3672
SourceRanaviru Authority of Sri Lanka
10
  • Government Policies
  • Progress of legislation to recognize and support
    people with disabilities in Sri Lanka
  • 1988 Public Administration Circular 3 of
    vacancies in public services and public companies
    should be filled by people with disabilities
    possessing requisite qualifications and whose
    disabilities would not be a hindrance to the
    performance of duties
  • 1992 Trust Fund Act for the Rehabilitation of the
    Visually Handicapped provides for education and
    training opportunities financial assistance
    housing provision and welfare schemes marketing
    of products made by people with visual
    impairments action to eliminate conditions which
    prevent gaining of equal rights and
    opportunities.
  • 1996 Right of persons with Disabilities Act No.
    28 established the National Council and the
    National Secretariat for Persons with
    Disabilities
  • 1996 Social Security Board Act 17 provides for a
    pension and insurance for people with
    disabilities in the case of accidents or old age
  • 1996 National Health Policy provides for the
    improvement of the quality of life reducing
    preventable diseases, running health programs on
    disability and health measures to prevent
    disability. Also provides for early childhood
    development of children with disabilities in
    rehabilitation and Development Centers with
    individual services, pre-schools, house visits,
    assistance devices, parental counseling and
    awareness for children suffering from acute and
    chronic mental illnesses
  • 1997 General Educational Reforms introduced the
    inclusion of children who have disabilities in
    the ordinary classroom (an approach which started
    in the early 1970s). Changes in teaching, the
    curriculum, counseling, career guidance,
    school-based management and new strategies for
    teacher education, were all promoted to benefit
    children who have disabilities within inclusive
    education. Child assessment on entry to and
    continuously through primary school also helps to
    identify children with disability.
  • 1999 Ranaviru Seva Act provides for the care and
    rehabilitation of members of the armed forces and
    police force who have become disabled in the line
    of duty
  • 2003 National Disability Policy provides the most
    comprehensive and progressive and holistic
    framework in Sri Lanka to date, for equality and
    opportunity for people with disabilities. This
    policy promotes community-based rehabilitation
    (CBR) and partnership with NGOs.
  • 2006 -10-17 Gazette Notification informed all
    Government Private institutions buildings to
    develop access facilities and also taking steps
    to develop ICT facilities for person with
    disabilities.
  • Telecommunications It is specially stated as a
    condition in the Telecommunications Service
    Providers license (Fixed Mobile) making it
    obligatory for the service providers to ensure
    telecommunication facilities to the people with
    disabilities and the elderly.
  • Telecommunications Ten Year Development Plan
    (2006-16) provides improve access of
    marginalized groups without gender bias to
    telecommunications facilities to facilitate and
    enforce the implementation of universal access
    throughout the country.

11
Current Status
  • Partners of the project..
  • TRCSL
  • TRCSL as a national counterpart and implementing
    agency will be directly responsible for
    implementation of the project and towards this
    end encourage participation from users and
    beneficiaries who will benefit from the ICT
    facilities and services to be provided by this
    project. TRCSL will therefore facilitate, monitor
    and appraise ITU and the project partners on the
    implementation of this project.
  • Licensed operators
  • Providing required services and facilities under
    this project.
  • International Telecommunications Union
  • ITU as the lead implementing agency will assist
    in designing and scoping the project. ITU will
    act as a link to other successful similar
    projects worldwide and supply world experience to
    enable the project realize its objectives. ITU
    will also mobilize partners both nationally and
    internationally to participate in the project and
    bring in their specialized resources

12
ITU /TRC Project Phase 1
  • ITU assistance project (Phase 1) provided
    financial and technical assistance to 28 centers.
  • About 2,292 people including students,
    marginalized people and people with disabilities
    benefited from these ICT equipment and
    facilities.

13
ITU Assistance Phase 2
  • ITU assistance project (Phase 2) provided
    financial and technical assistance to 69 centers.
    (33 Schools, 02 Universities, 17 Vocational
    training centers, 17 Ranaviru villages.)
  • About 4678 people including students,
    marginalized people and people with disabilities
    benefited from these ICT equipment and
    facilities.

14
ITU Phase Two
No Task Finish
1 Sign the project document agreement Completed
2 Expert mission and readiness assessment Completed
3 Study Visit /ITU Forum for Sri Lankan Project team to Thailand Completed
4 First Procurement of assistive equipment Completed
5 Second procurement of computers and accessories Completed
6 Deployment of the equipment to sites Completed
7 Software /application development Aug 10
8 Training the trainer programme Aug 10
9 National workshop on mainstreaming ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities Dec 10
8 Monitoring Evaluation (by TRC and ITU ) for six months after completion of the implementation Dec 10
15
An agreement for operation Maintenance of ICT
equipment with these centers.
Agreement For Provision and Maintenance of
Information and Communication Equipment Between
Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri
Lanka, _____________ And _______ School/
Vocational Training Center for People with
Disabilities At --------------------------------
-----------------------
16
Commemorating ITU World Telecom Information
Society Day -2008
Connecting Persons With Disabilities ICT
Opportunities for All
17
Visit by ITU Regional Officials
18
(No Transcript)
19
Provision of Ten ADSL Connections under the
e-NABLE Project by Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd.
(Licensed Operator)
20
Computer centers opened at Deaf Blind School /
VTC in Kandy Ranaviru Village Paradisewatta
21
Provision of Ten HSPA Connections under the
e-NABLE Project by Mobitel (Pvt.) Ltd (Licensed
Operator)
22
(No Transcript)
23
Opening of a Computer Speech Training Centre
Subaghya Special School, Monaragala A new
computer and speech training centre with
facilities for a FM hearing system and ICT 
equipment was opened at Wellassa Subagya Special
School at Kumbukana in Monaragala
District . 
24
Future Activities
  • Training the Trainer programme
  • Software/Application Development
  • Arranging an ICT Quiz programme among Schools
    VTCs
  • Conducting Research and development
  • Conducting a National Workshop with the
    participation of disabled persons
  • Taking steps to develop ICTs in schools
    Vocational Training Centers Universities
  • Monitoring Evaluation

25
Conclusion
  • Project has progressed very successfully.
  • This project has created a public awareness to
    help these marginalized communities living /
    working in villages, schools and Vocational
    Training Centers by equipping the special
    schools, MCTs and villages with basic sets of ICT
    equipment and facilities including Braille
    printers and other specific technologies to
    enhance accessibility.
  • The project has harnessed the power of ICTs for
    people with disabilities and has empowered them
    to live and work with confidence and has ensured
    their security and acceptance in the societies.
  • Has improved the living standards of persons with
    special needs.
  • Linking with other institutions for further
    improvement of facilities.
  • Opportunities have opened up for person with
    disabilities and institutions to participate
    at international events, improve and develop
    their knowledge and skills.
  • ITU assistance greatly appreciated.
  • Assistance from interested organizations are
    most welcome.

26
Disability is not Inability
  • Video clip
  • www.trc.gov.lk
  • Jagath_r_at_trc.gov.lk
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