Stephen Ssenkaaba
21 August 2007
Kampala — FLAVIA Nantalo is deaf. Because of her handicap, she had found it hard to enroll for computer studies in the same institution with able people.
"Computer schools do not dedicate enough time to people like me," she said.
She had resigned to her fate until in March this year, when she got an opportunity to go for computer studies.
Through the National Union of Women with Disabilities of Uganda (Nuwodu), Nantalo, with nine others with disabilities, enrolled for a three-month course at Second Life Uganda Limited, a computer training centre in Lugogo.
Today, Nantalo has successfully completed her training and is happily applying the skills she learnt.
"I can type various documents. I hope to start my own secretarial bureau soon," she said.
The computer and internet use programme at Second life is free of charge to people with special needs. It was conducted in partnership with Nuwodu. The programme was aimed at promoting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among one of society's marginalised groups and to prepare them for the job market.
"Many people with special needs have been left behind in the struggle to attain ICT skills. We hope to equip such people with the necessary computer skills to apply in this competitive job market and also enable them to create their own jobs," says Robert-Jan Nieuwpoort, the director of Second Life.
Under the programme, students are introduced to ICT basic components. They also learn basic computer programmes like Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the Internet.
At the end of the course, students present topics of their choice using Microsoft PowerPoint and a projector.
The students with a hearing impediment learn through an interpreter, while the rest receive assistance depending on their disability. The successful candidates are awarded certificates at the end of their course and are sent to their respective stations of work to practise what they have learnt.
Nieuwpoort said the programme is still in its initial stages.
"This is our first batch of trainees. We hope to take on more in the next intake which is a few months away," he said.
Nieuwpooort said with more facilitation, the centre hopes to expand and offer more advanced courses. Nieuwpoort, however, pointed out some constraints.
"We lack funds for expansion. We, therefore, find it difficult to attend to a huge number of students and groups such as the visually impaired," he said.
Other challenges include: Dealing with persons with very low self-esteem as most people with special needs tend to be. "This hampers the students' learning process since many of them do not ask questions in class."
He says teaching such students requires a lot of patience, especially when they are being taught in the same classroom with their non-deaf students.
"We have also found it hard to simplify certain computer terminology in the languages they can understand. This sometimes makes learning very hard.
Nieuwpoort called upon the Government to support initiatives which help disadvantaged people.
Aggrey Kibenge, the spokesman of the education ministry, says the Government supports such initiatives especially in public institutions where students with special needs are enrolled.
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