As UCC strives to continuously drive the development of a robust communications sector in Uganda, a comprehensive study is being undertaken to inform critical interventions related to promoting access and usage of ICTs by the People With Disabilities. (PWDs).
Stakeholders drawn from different Public Institutions; Development partners, PWD organisations, Private sector, academia and civil society organizations converged at the Communications House to discuss the uptake of ICTs by People With Disabilities (PWDs) in Uganda which are still low due to access and affordability, and, absence of knowledge on ICT needs of PWDs.
The study which relies on the sampling frame provided by National Union of Disabled Persons in Uganda, (NUDIPU) is limited to physical and sensory impairments (visual and hearing) due to budgetary constraints.
Speaking at the launch of the study, the Director Corporate Services-UCC reiterated position to continuously promote research into the development and use of new communications techniques and technologies, including those which promote accessibility by persons with disability. Findings from this study will inform the development of an appropriate regulatory framework that encourages the development of innovative solutions to cater uptake of communications services by all categories of consumers.
The key objective of this study is to support access and usage of ICTs by PwDs in Uganda.
Specifically, the study seeks to achieve the following:
- Identify and profile PWDs in Uganda not limited to current institutions engaged in supporting access and usage of ICTs by PwDs in Uganda.
- Identify and profile the currently available ICTs devices, services and initiatives catering for PWDs
- Profile the current ICT access and usage trends of PWDs
- Assess the level of awareness of available ICT devices, services and initiatives for enabling Inclusion of PWDs in the Use of ICTs including but not limited to;
- Radio and Television broadcast services
- Social Media
- Telecommunications services
- Identify and evaluate the gaps/barriers in existing levels of access and usage of ICTs by PWDs in Uganda.
- To provide evidence based recommendations and appropriate actions for all stakeholders to implement in the bid to promote access to and usage of ICT services by PWDs.
UCC hopes to provide evidence based recommendations and appropriate actions for all stakeholders to implement and promote access to and usage of ICT services by PWDs.
The study will also empower UCC in implementing its advisory function to the Government of Uganda and key stakeholders on mechanisms of addressing barriers to access and usage of inclusive communications services including assistive technologies.
