Title: Building Capacity for Harnessing ICTs for Disempowered / Marginalised Communities in Sri Lanka e-NABLE
1Building 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-
2Overview
- e-NABLE Project
- Problems
- Current status
- Future Trends
- Conclusion
- Short Video Clip
3e-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.
4e-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.
5ICT 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.
6ICT 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
7Present 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
8Current 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
9Ranaviru 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.
11Current 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
12ITU /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.
13ITU 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.
14ITU 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
15An 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 --------------------------------
-----------------------
16Commemorating ITU World Telecom Information
Society Day -2008
Connecting Persons With Disabilities ICT
Opportunities for All
17Visit by ITU Regional Officials
18(No Transcript)
19Provision of Ten ADSL Connections under the
e-NABLE Project by Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd.
(Licensed Operator)
20Computer centers opened at Deaf Blind School /
VTC in Kandy Ranaviru Village Paradisewatta
21Provision of Ten HSPA Connections under the
e-NABLE Project by Mobitel (Pvt.) Ltd (Licensed
Operator)
22(No Transcript)
23Opening 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 .
24Future 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
25Conclusion
- 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.
26Disability is not Inability
- Video clip
- www.trc.gov.lk
- Jagath_r_at_trc.gov.lk