Date: 15th March 2024
Time: 8:00 am–2:00 pm
Place: To be shared alongside the invitation
Introduction
KICTANet is hosting a workshop empowering community networks to be more accessible to persons with disabilities.
Background and Context
The 2022 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Monographic Analytical Report indicates significant discrepancies in Internet usage for persons with disabilities. About 11% of them use the Internet, compared to 22.9% of non-disabled people.
To address this divide, this workshop seeks to counter-check the current ICT Accessibility Legal, Policy, and Regulatory Landscape in Kenya to understand the digital barriers that persons with disabilities face. This will be key in promoting and continuing the efforts of KICTANet’s Digital Accessibility program to advance and secure full representation and active participation of persons with disabilities on the Internet.
Since community networks operate in digitally underserved regions, catering to a diverse range of internet users, this gathering will leverage these networks to facilitate capacity-building and empowerment initiatives. Through this collaboration, KICTANet aims to promote internet inclusivity for individuals with disabilities, ensuring they are not left behind in the digital age.
A 2021 report by CIPESA on the barriers to accessing ICTs in Kenya listed 3 (three) challenges of access to information by persons with disabilities; limited access to ICTs and assistive tech devices and software, and lack of appropriate knowledge and skills.
Community networks in Kenya can play a vital role in mitigating these challenges. The concern, however, is that custodians of community networks are not sufficiently empowered with training on how to include or assist persons with disabilities in their networks effectively.
Persons with disabilities working within these community networks will be encouraged to participate in these activities actively. This will ensure we build their capacity to advocate for inclusivity and adoption of digital accessibility within the networks.
Objectives of the Workshop
- Empower community networks to ensure digital inclusion for persons with disabilities.
- Promote digital inclusion and accessibility for persons with disabilities in internet access by discussing possible policy interventions.
Expected Outcomes
- Empowered community networks to ensure digital inclusion for persons with disabilities.
- Enhanced Capacity of community network members to implement the Kenya Disability Legal Framework
- In-depth knowledge of accessibility, assistive technology, and devices to community network technical and project officers.
- Developed best practices in ensuring digital inclusion and accessibility through community networks
Format of the Event
The workshop will feature trainer presentations on disability, ICT legal frameworks, accessibility, and community networks. The facilitators will allow time for interactive Q&A from the participants at any point during their sessions. Responses from the participants’ evaluation forms will form the basis of a report on the training’s success.
Attendees
KICTANet will target at least 21 participants drawn from four (4) community networks in the Nairobi Metropolitan. We invite the community network to send four(4) community network members (staff) to participate in the physical training workshop. KICTANet will also host five (5) persons with disabilities involved in the ICT space.
Accessibility
To ensure full and active participation of persons with disabilities in the workshop, we shall ensure that the workshop venue is accessible to all, and provide reasonable accommodations, including sign language translators, audio descriptions and closed captions when necessary.
About KICTANet
The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a non-profit organization, which is a multi-stakeholder platform and think tank for ICT policy and regulation. KICTANet’s guiding philosophy encourages synergies for ICT policy-related activities and initiatives. As such, the network provides mechanisms and a framework for continuing cooperation and collaboration in ICT matters among industry, technical community, academia, media, development partners, and Government.
About CIPESA
Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is established under the Catalysing Access to Information and Communications Technologies in Africa (CATIA) initiative. Its establishment was in response to the Louder Voices Report for DFiD, which identified the lack of access to information about ICT as a significant barrier to effective and inclusive ICT policy-making in Africa. It focuses on facilitating the use of ICT to support good governance, human rights, and livelihoods in East and Southern Africa. As such, it aims to address the shortage of information, resources, and actors consistently working at the intersection of technology, human rights, and society.
Workshop Program – 15th March, 2024
| Time | Session | Facilitators |
| 08:00 am – 08:30 am | Arrival and Registration | KICTANet |
| 08:30 am – 08:45 am | Welcome and Introductions | Dr. Grace Githaiga, KICTANet |
| 08:45 am – 09:00 am | Overview of Workshop Objectives | Nicodemus Nyakundi, KICTANet |
| 09:00 am – 9:30 am | Disability in the Digital Space: Barriers and Challenges for PWDs | Florence A. Ouma, KICTANet |
| 09:30 pm -10:00 am | Kenya Legal Frameworks on ICT Access for Persons with Disabilities | Linda Gichohi |
| 10:00 am – 10:30 am | Plenary Session | Moderator: Nicodemus Nyakundi, KICTANet |
| 10:30 am – 11:00 am | TEA BREAK | |
| 11:00 am – 11:30 am | Facilitating Digital Accessibility as a Community Network | Nicodemus Nyakundi, KICTANet |
| 11:30 –11:45 am | Q & A Session | All |
| 11:45 am – 12:15 pm | Group Discussions: Barriers and strategies to promote digital accessibility for Community Networks | Trainers |
| 12:15 am- 12:45 pm | Presentation of Group findings | Participants |
| 12:45 pm -12:55 pm | Feedback & Evaluation Forms | Participants |
| 12:55 pm – 1:00 pm | Closing session | KICTANet |
| 1:30 pm | LUNCH BREAK/END OF WORKSHOP |
