๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐.
Africaโs rapid shift toward artificial intelligence, digital government services and technology-driven economies risks excluding more than 80 million people living with disabilities unless accessibility is built into digital systems from the start. The warning shaped discussions at the 7th Inclusive Africa Conference in Nairobi, where government officials, technology companies, policymakers and disability advocates examined the widening gap between innovation and inclusion. Irene Mbari-Kirika, CPACC, O.G.W, GMAP, Founder and Executive Director of inABLE, said many celebrated technologies are leaving out 15% of Africaโs population. She described digital accessibility as โa strategic business imperativeโ rather than charity or corporate social responsibility.
The exclusion is already visible in routine services such as mobile money, where a blind user may be forced to share a PIN because an application was not designed for their needs. The risks extend across education, employment, healthcare and financial services, while the World Bank estimates that excluding persons with disabilities costs countries between three and seven per cent of GDP. Speakers also warned that poorly designed AI could โaccelerate exclusionโ by deepening existing barriers. Julius Mbura of inABLE called for persons with disabilities to be involved โfrom the get-goโ and urged developers and policymakers to apply universal design and Kenyaโs Digital Accessibility Standard, KS2952. ICT Cabinet Secretary Hon.William Kabogo Gitau, E.G.H. said accessibility is a constitutional obligation, adding that a successful digital economy cannot leave sections of the population unable to access the opportunities technology creates.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ : ๐พ๐ต๐ถ ๐ถโ๐๐๐๐๐ 1.
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Stakeholders at the Inclusive Africa Conference 2020, Sixth of Call for Greater Digital Accessibility to ensure persons with disabilities are not left behind in America’s growing digital economy. The conference brought together government officials, technology firms, and disability advocates to discuss inclusive technology accessibility standards and the role of AI in advancing inclusions because urge governments and technology developers. To make accessibility a priority when designing digital services, noting that many persons with disabilities still face barriers in accessing information, financial services, and online platforms. Participants also emphasized that while artificial intelligence represents new opportunities for inclusion, accessibility must be built into digital products from the start to prevent further exclusion and ensure equal participation in the digital economy. Accessibility can no longer be viewed as a specialized concern. It is a fundamental requirement for inclusive development. We cannot speak of a successful digital economy if sections of our population remain unable to access the opportunities that technology creates. The gaps that are there currently are as simple as persons with disabilities. And for example, let me give an example of someone who is blind. You made you might find that to use a mobile money application, sometimes they have to give their PIN number to someone else. To go ahead and transact for them simply because this mobile money application was not designed with their needs in mind. So we are coming in to help support companies.
