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Making mobile phones and services accessible for persons with disabilities

NARASIMHAN, Nirmita
LEBLOIS, Axel
2011

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"This report contains references to the new legislative and regulatory framework set by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an important resource for policy makers. It also covers practical elements required for a successful implementation of those programs and policies: technical accessibility features for handsets, accessible and assistive applications and services as well as business cases of companies which have implemented significant accessibility programs...(T)his report will be a useful resource for telecom regulators, mobile operators, organizations of persons with disabilities and other mobile stakeholders to develop successful accessibility policies and programs in their respective countries to equally serve persons of all abilities"

E-Accessibility policy handbook for persons with disabilities : based upon the ITU-G3ict e-accessibility policy toolkit for persons with disabilities

NARASIMHAN, Nirmita
Ed
October 2010

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This handbook is a companion to the toolkit and contains contributions from more than 60 experts around the world on ICT accessibility. It is useful for policy makers and regulators, advocacy and research organisations and persons with disabilities on the implementation of the ICT dispositions of the CRPD
Note: Braille and DAISY formats are available from the web link

United Nations expert group meeting on accessibility : innovative and cost-effective approaches for inclusive and accessible development

UNITED NATIONS ENABLE
2010

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This meeting report provides information "to promote greater awareness of environmental and ICT accessibility and advancement of persons with disabilities in the context of development, and to identify innovative and cost-effective approaches to accessibility both in the physical environment and in the fields of information and communications technologies as means to further inclusive processes of development"
"Expert meeting on environmental and ICT accessibility: innovative and cost-effective approaches to inclusive development"
Washington, DC
28-30 June 2010

Effective use of assistive technologies for inclusive education in developing countries : issues and challenges from two case studies

GRONLUND, Åke
LIM, Nena
LARSSON, Hannu
2010

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This article presents a study that "conducted an in-depth case study of two developing countries, Bangladesh and Tanzania, and thoroughly reviewed existing (inclusive education) IE projects around the world and other relevant literature. Three experts in the field and 18 informants of the two selected countries were interviewed in person, by phone or by email. The analysis of findings from interviews and literature review shows that obstacles to effective use of (assistive technologies) AT for IE come from three different levels - school, national, and network"
IJEDICT, Vol 6, Issue 4

Smart Quiz : an open-source intelligent evaluation tool for any language, subject or ability

MINDFUL INTERACTIVE
2009

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This is a quiz game in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL), designed to inform and educate deaf Kenyans about HIV and AIDS and reproductive health issues. The interface has been kept simple with minimal visual distractions, which makes it suitable for students with very low computer skills. The quiz would be useful for Kenyan schools, HIV and AIDS testing clinics, internet cafes, resource centres and libraries

Inclusive information and communication technologies for people with disabilities

SIMPSON, Jennifer
2009

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Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has the potential both to enhance access for people with disabilities and to contribute to creating barriers. What we now call the digital divide actually began long before the introduction of computers — barriers have existed and still exist today with telephones, television, the Internet and other information technology. It is important to remember that people with disabilities have many different accessibility needs and that there are different ways to make technology accessible and that new accessibility needs emerge as technology changes. This paper looks at the state of accessibility policy in the U.S. in several technology infrastructures that may provide some lessons and directions for increasing inclusive information and communication technologies worldwide. For instance, if the many provisions involving technology in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are to have real and substantive meaning, policy and implementation at the infrastructure level must occur.

Inclusive education : helping teachers to choose ICT resources and to use them effectively

BENIGNO, Vincenza
BOCCONI, Stefania
OTT, Michela
November 2007

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"This paper looks at the issue of school inclusion by referring to the concept of Universal Access to Education. It focuses on the strong potential Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) provide to avoid any kind of discrimination among students. The paper also argues that teachers play a fundamental role in capitalising the opportunities offered by new technologies to support the full inclusion of all students in mainstream education systems"
e-Learning Papers, No 6

How to accelerate your Internet : a practical guide to bandwidth management and optimisation using open source software

FLICKENGER, R
Ed
October 2006

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Information and communications technologies and the Internet have become critical components of development policies and practices. The speed of the Internet, however, is also the measure of a growing disparity between developed and developing countries. This publication provides practical tips, optimisation techniques and guidance on how to gain the largest benefits from network connections, with a particular focus on use of Internet in developing countries. Chapters cover a comprehensive range of issues, from policy development to monitoring and analysis, implementation of basic techniques, and general good practices. Include case studies, resources and glossary

Improving health, connecting people : the role of ICTs in the health sector of developing countries|A framework paper

CHETLEY, Andrew
Ed
May 2006

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This paper gives a snapshot of the types of information and communication technology (ICT) interventions being used in the health sector, and the policy debates involving ICTs and health. It draws on the experiences of both the North and South, but focuses on applicability in the South to identify the most effective and relevant uses of ICTs. It describes the major constraints and challenges faced in using ICTs effectively in the health sector of developing countries, draws out good practices for using ICTs in the health sector, identifies major players and stakeholders, and highlights priority needs and issues of relevance to policy makers. The paper also looks at emerging trends in technologies that are likely to shape ICT use in the health sector, and identifies gaps in knowledge. It is aimed at policy makers, international donors, local practitioners, and others who are involved in the development or management of programs in the health sector in developing countries

ICT in the health sector : literature review

DAVIES, Jackie
March 2006

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This literature review presents a brief survey of the materials that have been selected for presentation as part of the InfoDev supported ‘ICT & Health’ research project. These materials are presented online as a searchable annotated bibliography: http://asksource.ids.ac.uk/cf/keylists/keylist2.cfm?topic=ict&search=QL_infodevHealthComm05JD

ICT and health : 12 key lessons

AFRIAFYA
ISHED
HEALTHLINK WORLDWIDE
February 2006

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These are the lessons from a framework paper that emerged from the infoDev research project on the type of information and communication technology (ICT) interventions used in the health sector

Perceptions and practice : an anthology of impact assessment experiences

SAYCE, Kay
NORRISH, Patricia
2006

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This book presents eleven case studies of impact assessment in information and communication projects such as CATIA, Reflect's ICT projects in India, Tearfund's Footsteps project, Bernard van Leer Foundation's Effectiveness Initiative and others. Each case study begins with a summary of the study, followed by first-hand accounts of the key people involved in each assessment. The central issues raised by the studies include learning and accountability, attribution, context, communication, donor issues, resources, and planning. The case studies are bracketted by sensitive and analytical introductory and concluding chapters, which synthesize the practitioners' voices from the case studies, contextualise them in wider debates in development impact assessment, evaluation and learning

Investing in information for development module

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2006

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This module of the FAO's IMARK toolkit addresses the needs of managers to build their skills and awareness around managing information in their organisation. It aims to help managers develop and implement strategies, policies, structures and procedures for effective management of information. The module reviews current trends in access to and dissemination of information, and how new technologies (ICTs) affect and enhance information activities in organisations

The GNU operating system

FREE SOFTWARE FOUNDATION
December 2005

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GNU Project has been developing a number of high quality free software programs, and they are distributed under OSI-approved license called GNU General Public License (GPL), which is the most widely used license for free / open source software. This webpage provides basic information on GNU, including the history and philosophy

ICTs for poverty alleviation : basic tool and enabling sector

GREENBERG, Alan
November 2005

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This report acknowledges the crucial role that information and communication technologies play in the fight to reduce poverty. It focuses in particular on the impact that "older" technologies such as radio and telephone can have in addressing poor communities' problems. The study investigates the linkages between ICTs and four key areas: education, livelihoods, healthcare and government. It reports on pilot studies which have shown that use of technologies can help reduce child mortality and maternal mortality by nearly 50 per cent. It suggests that ICTs can enable people's empowerment and ultimately strengthen human rights

Technological convergence and regulation : challenges facing developing countries [whole issue]

BEZZINA, J
SANCHEZ, B
Eds
November 2005

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This special issue, produced with the support of InfoDev, marked the World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) meeting in Tunis (16-18 November 2005). It focuses on technological advances and their implications for regulatory systems, particularly in developing countries. Topics include: new technologies and regulatory regimes; telecommunication reforms in developing countries; structural change in African mobile telecommunications; Internet; broadband technologies and services in sub-Saharan Africa; local software and content production in developing countries; outsourcing in developing countries. Articles are aimed at telecommunications specialists and researchers

ICTs : information and communication technologies for the poor

TORERO, Maximo
VON BRAUN, Joachim
November 2005

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This 'issue brief' describes the proliferation of electronically communicated information, which has accelerated economic and social change across all areas of human activity worldwide. It observes that the rapid growth of ICTs in developing countries is partly a result of very low initial access, and therefore in absolute terms developing countries are still well behind the developed world in access to ICTs. It concludes that ICTs offer an opportunity for development, but not a panacea. For the potential benefits of ICTs to be realized in developing countries, many prerequisites need to be put in place: prompt deregulation, effective competition among service providers, free movement and adoption of technologies, targeted and competitive subsidies to reduce the access gap, and institutional arrangements to increase the use of ICTs in the provision of public goods. The paper advocates for the importance of all three "Cs": connectivity, capability to use the new tools, and relevant content provided in accessible and useful forms

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