Bangladesh: The Promise of Information Technology for People with Disabilities

In the primary stage of civilization...it was beyond almost all human imagination to integrate... (a) dreams (b) opportunities (c) information & (d) knowledge. The wheel of civilization began to move from that primitive time when these four factors came to the same parallel. And just after the starting of technological development, human sufferings and incapabilities began to lessen.

We are all well informed about how far we have reached and...the advancement of civilization. In the course of....time we can observe the 21st century by turning the age of stone, the age of engine and the age of automatic era. And... we can call the present civilization an era of Information Technology.

I shall leave no stone unturned to disclose you how people with disabilities have overcome inability.... Information Technology is now in Bangladesh. My thanks and gratification goes to the authorities of UTSA ( Unite Theatre for Social Action) for the arrangement of this seminar for the first time in Chittagong.

It is said that one is powerful who has information in his hand and the key of this great powerful information is very familiar one to all of us----it is nothing but a mere box --a computer. You might be thinking over... how people with disabilities can use the computer---especially visually impaired persons.

To remove your doubt I would like to cite you an example from my own experience while I was in Japan. Being a visually impaired person, I have always relied on others' cooperation for my reading, writing & collecting information.

I had to rely absolutely on written Braille to express my views. To do something i.e. writing & reading by the help of others it was impossible for me leaving the Braille. However, to be self-reliant it was necessary for me that I should read and collect information by my own endeavor.

I like to express--in boastful words-- in full confidence that I have already overcome my difficulties being a disabled person through computer-based information technologies. I have already expanded my fields of communication by adopting a computer. Now I can communicate & exchange my views with foreign friends on a regular basis by using the information technologies (IT) and I would like to cite you an example here in this regard.

While I was in Japan, one of my friends named Mary from Philippines suddenly became ill at 12.30 a.m. Another friend named Jessica from Malaysia was present there as well. As Mary was ill, I needed to communicate with Jessica about what to do at that moment. Although I could do these things easily, the problem lay in another place. My ill-fated friend is physically handicapped, Jessica is hearing impaired and I, as you know, am visually impaired. The problem was severe because we were all disabled in different ways or fields So, we could not solve the problem regarding Mary's illness at that critical moment. The only thing which helped us greatly at that time was my Screen Reader Laptop--the vital friend of the critical moment. This tiny & little thing, i.e. Laptop, helped us greatly to solve the problem regarding Mary's illness.

By citing this example, we can...suggest that we can solve all our problems using this software in computer! Now, let's come to the point - how we could solve the problem, i.e. communicate with each other since we were all disabled in various fields.

A person with visual impairment can use a computer with... Screen Reader software. This software can tell and read to you loudly when a command is given by pressing a button of a computer. A person with visual impairment can use a computer without using a mouse but merely using the key-boards of the computer.

Now let's go to the screen----I want to start the computer. I have to click Ctrl +Esc and the computer will start as well as the software will read to me out loud. Now I like to go to the Program Menu, then I have to press the key "Down Arrow" or press the 'P' letter from the keyboard. All the commands to be done to the computer will be read to me aloud by a speech synthesizer.

Different types of Screen Reader Software are available in different languages. I do not know whether the software in Bangla is available or not. If it is not available in this country, I can assure you. So we can use software in English language.

I use Screen Reader Software in English and its name is JAWS (Job Access With Speech). I can use it in Japanese language also. Generally I use three software and they are: 1) 2000 Reader; 2) IBM Homepage Reader; and 3) ALTER. By using these softwares we can go forward in our studies both in Japanese & English. I have been communicating with friends in foreign countries through Internet both in Japanese & in English.

I think it is possible to develop screen reader software in Bangla. And cooperation and necessary steps should be taken up by the policy makers of Bangladesh Government and the authority concerned in this regard.

I have told you some words about Screen Reader Software and now I would like to tell you about the other ways to demonstrate Braille without sound. Braille characters are to be seen on the device called Braille display with this software.

Any blind person can compose all desired information into Braille easily.

While I was in Japan, I used to read Bangladeshi English newspapers on a regular basis in Braille through Internet. It is a matter of real fact that you can read the paper with your own eyes while I can read the same thing in Braille and it is possible through using the special software of a computer.

I could be pleased if I could display the Braille on Screen but its cost is beyond my imagination to acquire the device.

I had an opportunity to study Braille Library Science in Japan. I became acquainted with various software available in Braille. There is some Braille software and using the same you can compose information into Braille very quickly. All that you need is a Braille Printer to transcribe the printed matter into Braille. You want to send a letter to one of your blind friends but you do not know how to write Braille. Simply compose your letter on the computer and command the special device by pressing a button to transcribe it into Braille and it will offer you the Braille letter exactly. You need not know the Braille system at all.

Another software is available which has only six keys of Braille characters. Being a blind person, you want to write a letter to your sighted friend and it is possible using the software.

I have a long cherished desire to establish an ultra modern computer-based audio visual Braille Library for the disabled people in Bangladesh.

I have tried my level best to describe to you concisely the Braille display, Braille Software & Braille Printer. Now I like to familiar you with a recently developed digital software named DAISY. It is very popular and famous Audio-Visual system for "print disabled" persons.

I want to let you know that I am fortunate enough to be the first person from Bangladesh to have training on DAISY. It has many features. With this software a CD can be recorded 50 hours long information, even with movie pictures. As a result, all everybody can use it for a variety of purposes. It is very a useful device for the persons with learning disabilities.

DAISY has another feature--we can locate any page, any line and even a single word from the recorded version. It can be used for spelling words also. This device is not for the exclusive use of disabled persons, but also to be used for illiterate people.

The Daisy Consortium--"Daisy For All" imparts its services to many developed and developing countries. In Bangladesh we hope to be taken soon to its destination.

Now I like to inform you about the Scanner--a device by which a blind person can read any printed matter sent to him/her. By using it, a print handicapped person can read printed letters, magazines & periodicals, books and so on easily and smoothly. You need not depend anymore on others to do these things.

I have already told you about Screen Reader software, Braille Display, Braille Software, Braille Printer, Daisy and Scanner and using these modern technologies all sorts of people with disabilities can lead a happy life overcoming the barriers of life.

I am not telling you about technologies only available to such well known disabled persons such as Mr. Stephen Hawking or about the British Home Minister, visually impaired Mr. David Blunkett...this technology is becoming more available to all.

I am mentioning just now with deep honor to my teacher Mr. Suzuki Jr.--who is working as a Product Designer of worldwide famous Sony Company; my teacher Mr. Kiriakee Masanorie--he is a Computer Programmer from Japan and my friend from Thailand, Mr. Sankrenk who is a Web-Page Designer----from whom I have learned a lot of things. I am indebted to them. The above three learned persons are visually impaired but they are enjoying their dignified lives like another successful men of the world by using the modern information technologies.

Many examples can be cited... how through information technology... a visually impaired person can operate computers, speech impaired persons can speak, hearing impaired persons can hear using adaptive aids and mentally impaired person can develop his/her I.Q.

I believe these mere works can be performed by the PWD here in Bangladesh. According to the statistics of the U.N.--only 10% of world population are handicapped in any way. In our country there are 1 crore 40 lakhs [14 million, or 10% of Bangladesh's population] of people are handicapped in any sort. It is not desirable for the nation to be developed infrastructurally, deprived of this vast population from the mainstream of development.

We have been always saying boastfully that 10% of our national budget is spent for educational purposes in each year. Hence, educational activities of people with disabilities rely on the department of Social Services. This special and important sector is to be given to the Ministry of Education for mobilizing its development and improvement in a rapid speed. So disabled persons been deprived from the very beginning taking them away from mainstream of education, employment, development and so on.

We are always satisfied and contented by saying that we are spending a lions share of our budget for the educational sectors but do we know exactly how little amount of money is spending each year for spreading education of disabled people in Bangladesh? We should be thinking over the matter from now on. It is needless to say, that the computer has yet to be utilized for people with disabilities in the educational institutions in Bangladesh.

The Internet is the biggest library of the world. How much we have been bathed by adapting its fruitful results. Hence it can be a medium of collecting the information from various sources. A disabled person can be a human resource if he/she is given proper education and training providing a computer----then no disabled person will be seen anymore in the country crying for a job and rehabilitation.

I am working with UTSA, having a dream in my heart that a separate Ministry for Disabled Persons will be set up urgently for the overall development of the deprived 10% population of Bangladesh.

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