Module 9 - Social Justice Issues

Choose one of the social justice issues in computing discussed above and find out to what it is an issue in the Philippines. Then find out what is being done to address it in specific countries. For example, in the case of digital divide due to language differences, Soriano reports the adoption of 'the Unicode Standard, "a character coding system designed to support the worldwide interchange, processing, and display of written texts of the diverse languages of the modern world." Developed, extended and promoted by a non-profit organization, the Unicode Consortium (www.unicode.org), the Unicode Standard makes international communication easier.'

Issue: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) access of persons with disability (PWD).

Access to information technology of persons with disability is the great concern in the developing countries of the Asia and the Pacific regions. Majority of disabled persons in the developing countries or countries with economies in transition are poor and are still deprived of the benefits of ICT.

In the Philippines, disability as one of the causes of the digital divide, along with income, age and gender is very much apparent. The reasons behind are: 1) Computers both hardware and software are not affordable 2) Internet infrastructures, communication cables, telephone systems are not readily available in the rural areas 3) Most PWDs have no income.

The National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) together with the sector of PWDs is demanding that assistive technology that would enhance their education, training and employment should be made affordable. The Philippine government is slowly realizing that PWDs are potential human resource for development. The National Computer Center (NCC) through the Department of Science and Technology has made a commitment to organize a committee that will promote access to ICT for PWDs.

The World Bank Knowledge Center put up the Knowledge for Development Center(KDC), a unique knowledge center equipped with modern facilities that gives ICT access to PWDS. It has been operational since 2002 and is more accessible to the blind and visually impaired, deaf, and other persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Facilities and equipment included in KDC are:

1. Screen magnification for people with low vision


2. Screen reader for the totally blind


3. Braille display, Braille translator, and Braille embosser for the blind


4. Track ball mouse for those with cerebral palsy and other psychomotor disabilities


5. Wide space or path of travel for thos on wheelchairs


6. Books for parents of children with disabilities


7. Flahing fire alarm for the hearing impaired


The KDC is found on the ground floor of The Taipan Place, Emrald Avenue, Ortigas Cetner, Pasig City.

COMPUTER EYES project, launched by IBM, if the first national training camp for the blind in collaboration with Resources for the Blind (http://www/blind.org.ph). It trained blind students on word processing, Internet surfing, and Web page creation. Samples of their past work can be found at http://www.cyberhip.ph.


In Hongkong, The Web Care Campaign of Hong Kong’s Internet Professionals Association (http://www.iproa.org) plays an important role in developing trainers and empowering PWD with ICT. It also recognizes websites that are PWD-friendly through special awards.

The Internet Society (ISOC), the World Wide Web Consortium(W3C), and other international Internet groups push for the “Universal Design” concept for easier access to the Internet. The main goal is to remove barriers to Internet participation for people with disabilities and special needs.

In the US, an existing legislation requires all federal agencies to comply with new rules for providing disabled persons with access to the Webs site and other technology.

References:
World Bank Knowledge Center Gives Access To People With Disabilities. Retrieved Feb 9, 2005 from http://www.worldbank.org.ph/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/
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Jimenez, Helen A.Calls for "universal Internet design" grow louder.(August 20, 2001). Retrieved Feb 9, 2005 from http://itmatters.com.ph/news/news_08202001d.html


Toral, Janette. Toral: ICT for Persons with Disability. (Septemebr 18, 2003). Retrieved Feb 20, 2005 from http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2003/09/18/bus/
toral.ict.for.persons.with.disability.html

Lee, Mateo Jr. Disability Issues on Information, Communication and Technology Development in the Philippines Retrieved Feb 20, 2005 from http://www.worldenable.net/manila2003/paperphilippines.htm