Regional Workshop on Accessible Web-based Information Networking
The Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand in collaboration with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) organized a Regional Workshop on Accessible Web-based Information Networking from 22 June to 9 July 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand. The objective was to promote information management, networking, and accessibility to related disability organizations in APCD's targeted countries.
The twenty-two participants from governmental and non-governmental organizations in 10 developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region came from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Nine of the twenty-two participants were persons with disabilities; six physically disabled, two hearing impaired persons, and one visually impaired person.
Mr. Javed Abidi, Director of NCPEDP
The four resource persons, professionals in disability information management, networking, and accessibility, especially in the Asia-Pacific region came from India, Japan, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Mr. Monthian Buntan, who is visually impaired and President of the Thailand Association of the Blind (TAB) acted as the course leader. Mr. Javed Abidi, Executive Director of the National Center for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) in India, Ms. Nguyen Hong Ha, Coordinator of the Disability Forum in Viet Nam, and Ms. Misako Nomura, Deputy Director of the Information Center of the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD) in Japan were the main facilitators for the eight-day information management and networking sessions. The emphasis of the second session was on information accessibility. Mr. Masafumi Nakane, Assistant Professor at Keio University, was the main lecturer for the second session of eight days. A presentation on Assistive Devices Technologies for Persons with Disabilities was also given by Ms. Wantanee Panthachat, Director of the Assistive Technology Center, NECTEC.
Participants during the group discussions
1. Information Management
The workshop was divided into two parts. The first part focused on information management, sharing, and networking. Participants from each country reported on the situation of disability information support in their organization and country. Participants were divided into 3-4 groups to discuss setting up a disability network. Then each participant had to draft a plan of action on information networking in their country and organization. The outcomes presented by the participants had similar starting points to network with associate organizations. A field visit was organized to the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand (MCOT) and Ratchasuda College. In addition to the lectures and activities from the main resource persons, APCD invited different information support-related organizations such as, Shin Cooperation, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Mirror Reflection Group,Bangkok Post, and MCOT. All the organizations shared their strategy on information and network especially on how to present their with different types of media.
2. An Accessible Website
Participants at MCOT
In the second session, participants were taught how to develop an accessible website as one information communication tool. Different applications and guidelines were introduced. For example, XML, XHTML, W3C Guidelines, Cascading Style Sheets, and the Website Design Plan structure. Participants had a hands-on practice to put their theory into practice. Through the practice, participants developed an accessible website by creating a new website introducing their country's situation on disability and/or their organization; some applied the skills to the original organization's website to fit the application of an accessible website, which all participants plan to further develop in their countries. All websites created in the workshop will be accessible at the APCD website (http://www.apcdproject.org).
Resource Persons' Corner
Three resources persons of the workshop would like to comment about the workshop as follows:
I. Ms. Misako Nomura, Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) Short-term Expert:
"I think this workshop provided participants an excellent opportunity to learn good use of a website as a means of disability-related networking on the local and regional scale. It also provided a hands-on training of web accessibility to ensure access to information for persons with disabilities. I am sure that after the workshop, all participants were able to make their website more informative, lively, inspiring, and accessible for persons with disabilities, which will lead to an expansion of their networking activities. In this sense, I hope the Disabilities Information Resources (DINF) website can be a good example for the participants.
The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) such as Internet can be a good tool to raise awareness, facilitate advocacy, provide opportunities, and empower persons with disabilities, if used effectively, considering its accessibility for persons with disabilities. With the use of e-mails, mailing list, and online discussions, persons with disabilities can virtually form a disability community and enhance information networking. Regarding Internet accessibility, ICT accessibility approach must be focused on to ensure equal access to information for persons with disabilities.
To promote information accessibility one must focus on the translation of the local language, easy-to-read contents, and web accessibility. I know that Internet access is limited in developing countries but it is important for us to attract the attention of the general public and Governments to ICT accessibility at an early stage since such awareness is essential as the ICT infrastructure is being created in developing countries."
II. Ms. Nguyen Hong Ha, Disability Forum, Viet Nam
"The lectures provided in this workshop were excellent and closely related to the topics and what the participants should learn. In my opinion, the main points towards promoting information networking and information accessibility of persons with disabilities, are that we should focus on the information resource, the technique and the way to encourage people to join and share, especially with the Government sectors."
III. Mr. Masafumi Nakane, JICA Short-term Expert:
"In the training this year, the long-term goal is to establish a regional web-based disability information network, which the APCD attempts to achieve through this training course. The newly added first half of the training served this purpose well, and it also provided the trainees with direction and motivation for the second half of the training.
The first half of the course left me with the impression that it is very important to cover both information networking/ management and accessible web development to establish an accessible web-based network so that inclusion of these two aspects is reasonable and essential. The hands-on training aspect provided a good overview of basic knowledge and skill required for accessible web development.
Comments that I would like to further share about web-based accessibility is to develop a usable content management system, which produces accessible content. The development can be based on existing and low-cost solutions. The cost may be an issue; however, it could be limited to a minimum by utilizing existing software."
APCD aims to continue to build and expand the network with all participants from the workshop to further empower the information support on disability-related issues. APCD would like to express gratitude to all the participants, resource persons, taskforce members, and special thanks to all assistants especially all former trainees for devoting their time and knowledge to the workshop.
