Africa’s ‘Dark Continent’ depiction is disappearing as the technology revolution brightens the digital landscape with beneficial innovations that are fueling the growth of over 400 tech hubs in cities, including Nairobi, Lagos and Cape Town.
First-ever Digital Accessibility Awareness Inclusive Africa Conference 2020 is expected to kick of this week with, The First Lady of Kenya, Margaret Kenyatta delivering a keynote address at the virtual Inclusive Africa Conference 2020.
The First Lady, describes the objectives of this accessibility conference as timely in regards to the technological advancements taking place in Africa.
“This timely event shall illuminate inclusive ways to make digital services and products accessible for all people, especially people with disabilities,’’ she said
Over 1,000 participants from across Africa and the globe have registered to attend this inaugural online event intended to increase awareness of the needs and rights of people with disabilities to access digital information. In-depth digital inclusion panel discussions include: The African Perspective, Mobile Technology, Inclusive Design, Accessible ICT policies and Higher, Primary and High School Education.
According to World Bank, there are approximately one billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, living with some form of disability globally, and over 80 million people with some form of disability in Africa (United Nations – UN).
As society’s reliance on digital connectivity increases due to innovations and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, people with disabilities’ ability to access vital digital information- health, wellbeing, education and employment has been interrupted or cut off due to a lack of digital accessibility, which is why the timing and content of this inaugural Inclusive Africa Conference and new inclusive ICT policies are so very important.
“As a country, we are proud of the Ministry of ICT Innovation and Youth Affairs for the recent introduction of the new inclusive National Information Technology ICT policy that embraces accessibility of technology for persons living with disability. This new policy lays ground for the development of new standards for digital accessibility and its implementation,” notes Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya”.
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