The Information and Communication Technology Center (ICTC) at Al Quds Open University organizes the 10th Annual ICT Day entitled “Technology in Serving People with Disabilities” on November 30th, 2016 at the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Headquarter, Al-Bireh- Jerusalem Street / Ramallah – Palestine.
The UN Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) in their Strategic and Operational Framework which was released in 2012 has highlighted the assistive technology, adequate data and evidence as enabling factors to improve the access to rehabilitation and habilitation — including assistive technology — by strengthening the availability and affordability of services and the identification of appropriate designs of assistive technologies and improve disability-specific data and support research on different aspects of disability as well as the codification of evidence, thus ICTC recognizes the importance of organizing the ICT day for the current year 2016 to highlight the technology roles to enhance the life of persons with disabilities.
The event mainly aims to create research opportunities for different ICT specializations, interested parties in the field of disability and people with disabilities so as to discuss the challenges, obstacles, opportunities and available potentials in order to enhance the services offered to people with disabilities through the ICT sector.
The event focuses on harnessing technology to empower people with disabilities by creating research opportunities, consultations and cooperation between the various actors in the field of disability as well as specialists in information and communication technology to discuss the challenges, opportunities and possibilities in order to improve and enhance the ICT tools and means available to people with disabilities and to support their integration in the society according to International Legislations and Standards.
Vision
The vision of the 10th annual ICT Day is to enhance research, cooperation and communication between the various actors who support the rights and interests of people with disabilities and between the ICT sector; to harness technology to empower the role and status of people with disabilities in Palestine and help them integrate in within their communities.
Objectives of the 10th Annual ICT Day
- Reviewing the latest technological solutions provided to serve people with disabilities;
- Demonstrating (exhibiting) some students’ initiatives and innovations that can contribute to solving some obstacles that face people with disabilities;
- Networking between technological sectors and institutions concerned with people with disabilities;
- Illustrating the experience of Al Quds Open University in using technology to facilitate education for people with disabilities;
- Highlighting the international and national technology initiatives related to people with disabilities;
- Preparing formal recommendations and disseminating the results among participants and interested parties.
Themes:
- Computer applications and programs that serve people with disabilities;
- Available devices that serve people with disabilities;
- How to employ technology to serve people with disabilities, and to facilitate integrating them in their community;
- Computerized national information bank that provides statistics for and about all Palestinians with disabilities;
- Training plans for the development and transfer of know-how of ICT for people with disabilities;
- How to encourage both public and private sectors, to activate their role in providing a better sustainable ICT service for people with disabilities;
- Activating academic institutions’ role through supporting student projects or research initiatives in the field of technology that facilitate the daily lives of people with disabilities;
- Possibilities of leveraging the power of the United Nations’ System to serve Palestinians with disabilities;
- Promoting the rights of people with disabilities to access different technology services and tools;
- Classifying disabilities, obstacles, challenges and solutions.
Target Groups
- People with disabilities.
- Academics, consultants and scholars working in the field of disability and ICT sectors.
- Policymakers and legal professionals in the private and public sector.
- Doctors and medical specialists for disability.
- Technology service providers to people with disabilities.
- Special education experts in the field of disability.
- Active leaders, decision-makers in research and training institutions specialized in the field of technology and education for people with disabilities.
- Technology experts.