GCE ICT and Disability Conference in Bangladesh

Source : http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=85

The Daily Star, 15 August 2007

Experts at a conference yesterday underscored the need for disabled persons' access to information and communication technology (ICT) in order to turn them into human resources.

They also emphasised providing logistical support to the persons with disability (PWD).

They were speaking at a conference titled 'ICT and persons with disability: The Context of Bangladesh,' at city's Brac Centre Inn.

Relief International-Schools Online (RI-SOL), a US based NGO in association with Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organisation (BERDO), National Forum of Organisations Working with Disabled (NFOWD) and Bangladesh NGO Network for Radio Communication (BNNRC) organised the daylong conference.

The conference aimed at bringing practitioners, policymakers and the mass of the country under an umbrella for the benefit of PWDs through providing ICT facilities, said Nazrul Islam, director of (RI-SOL), Bangladesh country office, while delivering the inaugural speech.

He added the conference also aims at disseminating information about ICT-based innovative programmes that can empower PWDs through involving them in income generating process.

Speaking as the chief guest, Prof Atiur Rahman of Dhaka University put emphasis on initiating development projects after analysing the needs of the disabled persons.

He asked for integrating the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) into local development projects for the benefit of all, including the PWDs.

He also urged the media to introduce sign language interpretation for physically challenged people to ensure access to information.

He called upon the NGOs to recruit PWDs and establish a model to encourage other institutions to engage PWDs in various development activities.

Expressing concern over the condition of the disabled women, Anannya Raihan, director of D Net, said poverty and disability create a 'matrix' situation and make their life challenging.

Mahbubul Ashraf, member of ICT Thematic Group of NFOWD, asked for the optimum utilisation of limited resources to provide ICT facilities for PWDs and turn them into human resources.

He also suggested highlighting the success stories of the physically challenged people through the media to encourage the disabled persons.

Colleen Sullivan, programme officer, RI-SOL, Headquarters, USA, Dr Nafeesur Rahman, executive director of NFOWD, Vaskar Bhattacharya, programme officer of YPSA and AHM Bazlur Rahman, chief executive officer of BNNRC, also spoke on the occasion.

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