Tuesday, August 23
4:30-6:00 WBU-ICEVI Concurrent Session 17
Technology in developing countries
Topic 1:Developing adaptive/assistive technologies for the visually impaired – “For us, but not without us”
Speaker:A.K. Mittal, President, All India Confederation of the Blind
Developing Adaptive/Assistive Technologies for the Visually Impaired—
"For Us, But Not Without Us"
A.K. Mittal
President, All India Confederation of the Blind
Vice-Chair, Indian Blind Sports Association
Treasurer, World Blind Union
Member, World Braille Council
Introduction:
The term "adaptive/assistive technologies" is used in this presentation, to refer to solutions/products developed for us on the basis of technology-applications.
Since the aim of these applications is to enable us to attain and maintain maximum independence, it should naturally follow that we be treated as an integral part of such processes and developments. Here, the phrase ‘for us, not without us’, is not just a slogan or a cliché, but a matter of enduring conviction and abiding commitment.
So, in this presentation, we would look for answers to questions like ‘why’ and ‘how’ insofar as our felt needs and interests are concerned regarding technological solutions.
International Documents:
But before we embark upon this important discussion, let's pause for a moment and look at some of the major disability-specific and other instruments to ascertain how important these technology-applications are:
UNCRPD:
Of course, the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is a landmark document in this regard. Under Clause (v) of its Preamble itself, the Convention recognizes `the importance of accessibility to the physical, social, economic and cultural environment, to health and education and to information andcommunication, in enabling persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.`
Further, Article 4(g) of the Convention makes it a general obligation of States Parties
`... to promote the availability and use of new technologies, including information and communication technologies, mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies suitable for persons with disabilities....`.
U.N. Outcome Document:
Another document which merits mention here is "The Outcome Document of the High-Level Meeting of the U.N. General Assembly on the Realization of the Millennium Development Goals and Other Internationally Agreed Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities: The Way Forward, a Disability-Inclusive Development Agenda towards 2015 and Beyond", which was adopted in September, 2013. One of the important action areas indicated under Section 4 of this Document is: "Ensure accessibility, by removing barriers to the physical environment, transportation, employment, education, health, services, information and assistive devices such as information and communications technologies, including in remote or rural areas, to achieve the fullest potential throughout the whole life cycle of persons with disabilities."
The Incheon Strategy:
At the regional level, the UNESCAP has adopted a plan of action titled "The Incheon Strategy" for its Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2013-2022) with the theme "Making Rights Real." Here, too, of the ten interrelated goals included in the Strategy, Goal 3 concentrates on technology-application and seeks to "Enhance access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, information and communication."
SDG's:
In addition, mobilization of ‘appropriate technologies’ will have a vital role to play with regard to several items in which reference has specifically been made to persons with disabilities, under Sustainable Development Goals 2030. These relate to such critical areas as ‘inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning’ (Goal 4); ‘sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work’ (Goal 8); ‘reduce inequality within and among countries’ (Goal 10) and ‘make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’ (Goal 11).
To be really meaningful, these endeavours must be need-based and related to actual life-situations.
User Perspectives--Why?
Yet, the real benefits of adaptive technologies can be meaningful only when the user’s situation/standpoint is taken into consideration at every step of the way. It is, indeed, no exaggeration to state that persons with disabilities including the blind and the partially sighted, are the most qualified and best equipped to support, inform and advocate for themselves and other persons with disabilities. Experience and observation are a clear pointer to the fact that the quality of life of such persons and of the community at large undergoes a significant positive change, when persons with disabilities themselves actively articulate their concerns and requirements. Adaptive technology is no exception and it is crucial that our views and requirements should form the basis for innovative work in the area.
Clause (o) of the Preamble of the UNCRPD recognizes that persons with disabilities (which, of course, would include blind and the partially sighted) should have the opportunity to be actively involved in decision-making processes about policies and programmes, including those directly concerning them.
The Convention makes this even more explicit through Articles 4 3 and 33 3, which call upon States Parties to closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through their respective organizations, in all decision-making processes concerning such persons as also monitoring implementation of the Convention. Thus, the perspectives and concerns of user groups like us are recognized in international law, now, and have to be honoured in all sincerity and earnestness with regard to technology-applications as well.
Further, Section 9 of the U.N. Outcome Document referred to a little earlier, also underlines “The importance of closely consulting with and actively involving, as appropriate, persons with disabilities, including through their representative organizations, as key actors and stakeholders in the elaboration, implementation and monitoring of the emerging post-2015 development agenda.”
Thus, it becomes imperative for all service-providers, researchers and scientists to take on board our perspectives in deciding upon their course of action. It is a matter of immense regret that many well-intentioned innovative efforts have proved fruitless, since these were not implemented with active cooperation of persons for whom the same were intended. We remember here the hard work put in by several technology students and professionals in developing prototypes, which could never see the light of day. One of the primary reasons for this was non-involvement, in many cases, of user-organizations having a proven national track record of service.
Some Important Considerations:
Affordability:
When we think of the situation of the average visually impaired user, the crucial factor of affordability comes up before us as a matter of high priority. According to the 2011 World Disability Report, about 80% of the world's population of disabled persons reside in our developing countries, mostly in conditions of poverty and deprivation. Therefore, our devices have to be such as to be easily accessible for these economically vulnerable segments of our population.
The captains of our industries could play a vital role in sponsoring and marketing technology-based solutions for the benefit of our groups. In fact, it might be a good idea to suggest that multi-national corporations working in developing countries be motivated to allocate at least 1% of their profits for supporting the development and production of otherwise expensive devices for persons with disabilities, especially the blind and the partially sighted. The present concept of utilizing corporate social responsibility initiatives for this purpose may also be pursued.
Covering such devices under existing government schemes like the ADIP Scheme in India and making them available at no or concessional costs, would be another worthwhile exercise and, ultimately, following the concept of ‘universal design’ in product-development could be some other possible solutions. Article 9, 2(h) of UNCRPD enjoins upon States Parties to ‘promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost’. Perhaps, it might be advisable to include large-scale production of the concerned device as an integral component of the project-design itself to facilitate availability at reduced cost.
Mention must be made here of a development of far-reaching potential. Under ‘Transforming Braille Project’ a low cost Refreshable Braille Display would soon be available. The initiative is being closely supervised by World Blind Union's Technology Committee under the leadership of Kevin Carey, Chair, RNIB.
Easy Maintenance:
Adaptive technology devices have, at the same time, to be easily usable, in view of existing problems like lack or shortage of electricity etc., especially in rural areas/remote towns. Also, we must ensure that maintenance and repair requirements do not pose insurmountable difficulties resulting from non-availability of spare parts, possible high cost of repair and long distances and time involved.
Partnership:
Visually impaired persons and their credible national organizations have to be lot more closely associated with adaptive technology endeavours. Our emphasis here is on association with reputed and well-established user-organizations and not just those which exist in abundance, but whose expertise/competence is dubious.
Such partnership and interaction should cover all aspects of actual needs in our sector relating to determining what is really required on a priority basis by blind and partially sighted persons, covering conceptualisation, prototype-development, beta testing and large-scale production. Our technology professionals and researchers must work with an open mind and give utmost weightage to the inputs of such reputed organizations at every stage. A user's manual must invariably accompany each new device.
International Cooperation:
Article 32 1 (d) of the UNCRPD and Section 4(o) of the U.N. Outcome Document lay emphasis on facilitating access to and sharing accessible and assistive technologies and the transfer of technology among nations. However, such technology-sharing and transfer needs always to be guided by the specific ethos and situation of each country and not just by what has been found useful elsewhere. Also, our representative organizations in developing countries, could take the lead and see how best resources and expertise available with us could be used for the mutual benefit of our visually impaired populations, instead of depending always on developed nations.
Perhaps, our WBU and ICEVI Regional Unions and Chapters could set examples of such South-South cooperation for the technology-development and upgradation in our parts of the world.
Consultation Mechanism:
For our concerns to be effectively articulated, it would be necessary that our organizations develop the requisite competence as also mechanism to offer advice to different technology stakeholders and governments. It could be of use for each of our organizations to have a well-informed technology group in their respective structures.
Rights and Priorities:
Smooth and need-based development of technology devices in our sector would be greatly accelerated if it is accepted by all concerned that in the knowledge-society of today, access to information and communications is a basic human right for all, including the blind and the partially sighted. In pursuance of the recognition of this basic human right, we have to undertake work relating to this sector based on carefully assessed priorities, in view of our limited resources in developing countries.
Priorities should be set strictly as per the actual needs and the present level of economic development.
May I state again, even at the cost of repetition, that the devices need to be affordable, easy to operate and the gap between laboratory work/prototype-development and mass production must be eliminated.
May I also point out, here that topmost priority be accorded to the development and production of devices which, as a starting point facilitate:
- Production of and access to reading material;
- Availability of wide ranging teaching devices;
- Diversification of job-opportunities;
- Independent living and household management;
- Entertainment including audio-description of films and television content.
Conclusion:
Thus, it is obvious that the concerns of primary stakeholders like us must always guide and supervise each step of the development of adaptive technologies for us.
At the same time, from our side, we, too, need to be absolutely clear about what our constituency really needs and how their concerns could best be addressed by technology-developers. So, it is through this close and continuing interaction that we could usher in an era of truly need-based adaptive/assistive technologies.