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• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) for Persons with Print Disability
• Training of Managerial Personnel of Independent Living Centers for PWDs
• Refresher Training Course in Peer-Counseling for PWDs
• Accessible Web-based Information Networking
  • General Information
  • Fellowship Application Form
  • Appendix of Application
  • Questionnaire
  • Letter of Willingness
  • Training Report
  • Participants
• Seminar for South-to-South Cooperation for Decades of PWDs
• Training of Initiators for Self-help Groups of PWDs
• Capacity Building of Self-help Organizations of PWDs
• Capacity Building of Self-help Organizations of PWDs
• Community-based Rehabilitation
• Training of ICT for Visually Impaired Persons
• 2004
• 2003

Training Report

Internet is a powerful tool for communication, information sharing and networking. Through the support of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand, and JICA, APCD implemented the 3rd Regional Workshop on Accessible Web-based Information Networking from 5-19 July 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand. Twelve trainees from 8 countries, namely Fiji, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vanuatu representing governmental and non-governmental organizations actively participated in this course. Among them were 2 blind, 1 hearing impaired and 3 physically challenged persons.

The first objective of the course was for participants to be able to create, maintain and develop accessible and informative websites of their organizations and contribute to APCD's regional web-based information networking. The second was to train them to understand the concept of information accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs) based on universal design principles.

In the first part, participants gave a presentation on their organizations and countries' situation regarding disability-related information support. Three Thai resource persons provided instruction in information management and networking. Ms. Kamolpun Punpuing, a researcher, introduced the concept of information management and presented her involvement in the Community-based Forest Networking Development. Mr. Sombat Boongamanong, the founder of the Mirror Art Group (http://www.mirrorartgroup.org) shared his experience on utilizing internet for information networking in his volunteer projects to help hill tribes in northern Thailand have a better life. One successful example of internet utilization was his networking of volunteers to support the tsunami victims. Mr. Monthian Buntan, President of the Thailand Association of the Blind (TAB) and blind himself, took the leading role for policy and legislation related to information accessibility for PWDs. Group discussion followed on the significance of face-to-face communication and web-based communication toward sustainable networking.

Ms. Wantanee Panthachat, Director of the Assistive Technology Center, National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, provided a lecture on assistive devices technologies for persons with disabilities. The APCD Information Support Team exposed the participants to accessible and inaccessible web designs. The participants found a simulation exercise of diverse types of disabilities when approaching the internet very inspiring.

The latter part of the course emphasized on making an accessible website as one of a primary means of exchanging and disseminating information. Mr. Raksak Chairanchuensakul, APCD resource person, took the lead role to teach the concept of web accessibility with support from Mr. Masafumi Nakane, JICA expert and Assistant Professor at the Keio University. Participants learned some guidelines and requirements for creating an accessible website based on the W3C web standard. The awareness of web compatibility with accessibility devices such as the screen reader or screen magnifier was also introduced. The dramatic improvement of the participants in developing their accessible website was evident in their final presentation when they also demonstrated their action plan on establishing information networking and promoting web accessibility in their respective countries and organizations.

APCD believes that these participants will become agents of change to promote an information society for all. Although APCD is only one catalyst trying to bring together concerned persons to enhance their knowledge in this area, it requires everyone's commitment to make it a reality. APCD plans to follow up and monitor activities and provide necessary technical support in promoting accessible web-based information as well as maintain long-term networking with them. With an accessible World Wide Web and networking, the world will become one.