Deadline: 18 February 2019
The Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD); the African Network for Evidence–to–Action in Disability (AfriNEAD), and the University of Washington is currently inviting applicants to participate in a 2-hour webinar includes a Q & A session focusing on the Assistive Technology (AT) situation in Southern Africa; the AT-Info-Map project; and the forthcoming regional AT Expo.
AT includes a wide range of technology products that are used to support persons with disabilities as they work, learn, play and live in their communities. Some examples of AT include: crutches, wheelchairs, ramps, hearing aids, Braille printers, adaptive software, communication devices, just to mention a few.
The Assistive Technology Webinar will be held online but the presenters and/or panelists will be hosted by AfriNEAD, at the Stellenbosch University.
In Southern Africa, it is estimated that 85-95% of people with disabilities who need AT do not have access to it. For those who do get access, devices are often inappropriate for the individual and/or the environment, and lack repair and maintenance services. It is in this context that the AT-Info-Map project was initiated in April 2016.
The AT-Info-Map project aims to increase access to AT by gathering and providing information on existing AT resources (suppliers and services) in Southern Africa. The project has geographically mapped the current availability of different types of AT in ten countries in Southern Africa and organized AT awareness raising events with local disability organizations in multiple countries.
During the implementation of the AT-Info-Map project, SAFOD and collaborators have discussed the challenges and potential solutions to increasing AT access with public, private, NGO and DPO stakeholders across the region. These discussions have highlighted the need to explore and interrogate a myriad of topics such as AT policies, regulations, and financing, in order to develop lasting solutions to the whole question of AT access.
This webinar is, therefore, part of SAFOD’s AT awareness campaign with the aim to share knowledge and identify effective strategies for increasing AT access.
Topics
The one-hour Q & A session will be preceded by three presentations (20 minutes each) which will focus on the following topics:
- The AT situation in Southern Africa and suggested actions and roles of different stakeholders in addressing challenges, including the role of DPOs. (Rebecca Matter – University of Washington/University of Cape Town)
- An overview of the AT-Info-Map project and how it is seeking to address AT challenges in Southern Africa through a mobile app, website database and awareness initiatives. (George Kayange and Louisa April – SAFOD)
- An overview of the forthcoming Southern Africa Assistive Technology Expo (SAATE) and how different stakeholders can participate. (Prof Gubela Mji – AfriNEAD)
Date and Time
- Wednesday, February 20, 2019
- From 2 pm to 4 pm SAST
How to Apply
- This is a free Webinar! Those interested to participate in this Webinar can share their basic contact information using an online form so that SAFOD can later send them instructions on how to sign up to the webinar.
- Participants can proceed to the pre-registration form via given website.
For more information, please visit http://atinfomap.org/webinar.html
