The digital age promises unprecedented access and opportunity, yet for many visually impaired individuals, the gap between potential and reality remains wide.
Anne Marie Wandera Bewulira, host of The Ugandan Podcast, an initiative by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance (MoICT&NG) in partnership with MultiChoice Uganda, dived into this challenge, spotlighting a groundbreaking effort to bridge the digital divide.
During the episode, Anne Marie engages two international experts: Sada Kane of Digital Transformation Center, Senegal, and Professor Cristian Bernareggi from Torino University, Italy.
Their discussion unpacked the design, implementation, and profound human impact of the Introduction to Computer Basics for the Visually Impaired (ICBVI) training program.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
Professor Bernareggi, himself a visually impaired computer scientist, explained that the ICBVI program is designed not just for learners but primarily to train the trainers at the Uganda Institute of ICT (UICT).
The goal is to establish a sustainable, inclusive educational model that can be scaled nationwide. This innovative approach uses mainstream computers equipped with open-source screen reader software, transforming a visual medium into an auditory one.
The model includes both sighted and non-sighted trainees, a pioneering effort that Bernareggi notes has already shown success in countries like Pakistan.
Sada Kane, technical manager for the SD Foundation in Senegal, emphasized that digital literacy is not about pity; it is about unlocking wasted talent.
He argued passionately that when visually impaired individuals are properly skilled, they often outperform their sighted peers in digital tasks.
Kane shared a powerful success story from Senegal where a trainee, who lost his sight later in life, used newly acquired Excel skills to secure a hospital job.
He also cited an example from India where visually impaired girls, aged 14 and 15, learned coding and created sensor-based alarm systems.
"The eyes become an obstacle," Kane noted, explaining that with four dominant senses, the visually impaired often possess enhanced hearing and focus, leading to faster digital learning.
This shift in perspective underscores the central takeaway: the training enables individuals to achieve financial independence and contribute meaningfully to society, rather than resorting to begging.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
The success of the ICBVI program depends on global and local cooperation.
Key partners include MoICT&NG, UICT, ITU, and the SD Foundation. Both experts issue a call to action for policymakers and the public.
For policymakers, Professor Bernareggi urged adoption of accessibility policies like the European Accessibility Act, ensuring every digital product is usable through multiple senses, not just sight.
"The MoICT&NG's commitment to providing tax free status for assistive technologies is a positive step," he noted.
For the public, Kane advised the sighted community to recognize that visual impairment can happen to anyone and to change their mindset: "Do not consider the visually impaired world a separate one."
