– For inclusivity in the technological world

TWENTY-EIGHT Guyanese Web Developers are now on the right path to inclusivity in the technological world, after they have completed the “National Capacity Building programme on Web Accessibility and the online Design and Development of Accessible Websites” programme.

The programme is one of the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Telecommunications under the theme “internet for all.”

The 28 developers have been engaged in a week of training sessions aimed at equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make ICTs more accessible to individuals with disabilities.

The simple ceremony, which was held at the Colgrain House for the presentation of certificates on Thursday, was attended by the Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, who shared that the Ministry is doing its part to ensure that Guyana has citizens who are capable to meet the demands of the new global and digital world that exist today.

Hughes highlighted Sustainable Development Goal Nine, which speaks on human’s access to the internet, which she describes as “almost a human right”, noting, “so it is in that context that the Ministry of Public Telecommunications really got involved with ensuring that we look at how we can use technology to better the lives and to improve accessibility for persons living with disabilities.”

“Information and data, they say, in today’s world is the new oil. It is extremely valuable and so we do underservice any person when we lock out any person from being able to access the worldwide encyclopedia we call the internet,” Minister Hughes pointed out.
According to Hughes, the ministry is hoping to train more Web developers in Guyana and will also be targeting the media and private entities that posses websites.

“In the future we want to see the private sector and regular websites being constructed and enabled to reach not just what we would call the average Guyanese or the average person overseas, but we want to make sure it’s enabled so that persons with disabilities can access and share the information,” she pointed out.

“I look forward to the day when every ordinary website would be enabled for accessibility for this important sector and persons in our society. We don’t want to leave anybody out,” she added.

According to Jaime Skeete, Web Coordinator at the Ministry of Public Telecommunications (MoPT), the “train the trainer” initiative is an ongoing one for the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, aimed on making Information and Communications Technology (ICT) more accessible for persons living with disabilities.

Skeete noted that the programme is in line with the ITU’s Resolution 2000’s 2020 agenda for global telecommunications and ICT development and also the ITU’s Goal Two of inclusiveness target which aims at enabling environments and ensuring accessible communications for all.

The goal also states that ICTs for persons with disabilities should be established in all countries by 2020.

“With the implementation of this programme under the guidance and push of our minister Catherine Hughes, I can proudly say that Guyana is well on the way to fulfilling its part in the ITU’s resolution,” Skeete noted.

Giving closing remarks at the event was Leroy Phillips, volunteer at the National Commission on Disability (NCD)who expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Public Telecommunications on behalf of the NCD.

“The commission wants to encourage all the participants to take skills into their homes, communities and work places because this is where it will all go into something big and better in the coming weeks, months and years,” he encouraged.

Participant of the programme and Head of the Computer Science Department at the University of Guyana, Penelope DeFreitas, stated that the programme would have helped her to think about ways in which the Computer Science Department can improve its curriculum and how it can be inclusive of a wider audience, including persons living with disabilities.

She stated that the department is constantly making changes because it aims to improve its overall system, and as such, the department intend to create courses which will aim at teaching persons in the area of Web Development, amongst others.

Lecturer in the Computer Science Department of the University of Guyana, Girendra Persuad, is also the owner of GX Media which built over 100 websites for companies in and out of Guyana.

Persuade noted, “For us it really equips us with the knowledge to be able to build our websites in a way that are accessible for the general public. The programme was enlightening and educating in showing you exactly how to use these tools that are already available to be able to make your websites more accessible.”