Training session on increasing access to technology for Persons with Disabilities

Provisional Annotated Agenda

08:00-08:30 Registration

08:30 – 9:15 Opening session

Ms. Catarina Camarinhas, Social Affairs Officer, ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean will make opening remarks. 

Introduction of participants, icebreaker activity, expectations, overview of agenda, training ground rules, distribution of workshop materials.

9:15-10:30 An introduction to ICT Accessibility

This session will discuss concepts of accessibility and the various types of disabilities and disability models and introduce the UN and the UNCRPD definition of disability. There will be an overview of ICT legislation, standards and policies (local, regional, and international). The session then turns to present examples of the assistive technologies and accessible ICTs commonly used by persons with disabilities. The session concludes with a discussion on how specific advancements in ICTs such as voice recognition, virtual reality, machine learning, and AI assistants are creating new forms of assistive technology and accessible ICTs.

10:30-10:45 BREAK and Demo Display

10:45-12:00 Universal Service Funds: projects, key stakeholders, resources and criteria for succes

Universal Service Funds (USFs) are a mechanism that can be used to finance measures to ensure access to ICTs for persons with disabilities. USFs aim to increase access to telecommunication services through a levy on telecommunication providers. In this session, the main elements of a USF project are explained as well as their application on measuring project performance.

What is the purpose of a project proposal?

How to identify a problem or opportunity and propose a solution?

Who benefits? How will it be sustainable? And what is the potential for social impact?

Does the project meet the eligibility criteria of the USFs and align with the SDGs?

What are the key resources needed to implement the solution?

Who are the key project stakeholders and how to gather their support?

Project scheduling and the tools used to manage the project.

How to gain the attention of your audience when writing?

Examples of the various proposal formats.

Research methods and tools to use for gathering information.

12:00-1:00 LUNCH and Demo Display

1:00-2:00 Pitching Session

The purpose of this session is to present and demonstrate project proposal formulation. Participants will come prepared to pitch their projects in under 3 minutes and answer 2 minutes of questions from the audience. The audience will be asked to provide feedback via a menti survey. The allotted time should allow for at least 12 pitches to be heard.

2:00-2:45 Disability inclusive development: implementing accessibility through a focal points system

This interactive session covers the basics and main features of a focal points system within the USFs. Special emphasis is provided on the roles, responsibilities and required skills of a Disability Inclusion Focal Point.

2:45-3:00 BREAK and Demo Display

3:00-4:30 Group exercise: The construction of a project proposal for improving access to technology for PWDs

Participants will be given 1 hour and 30 minutes to work on improving their proposals using the tools and methods presented in the worksheets. The final deliverable would be to complete a first draft of the Project Proposal.

4:30-5:00 Wrap-up and closing remarks

A brief recap of the training tools and methods learned.

Closing remarks.

Evaluation of Training