Summary
Seeing hands Rwanda is committed to digital inclusion of persons with disabilities through providing consultancy as well as actively participate into evaluation of digital systems and websites accessibility.
Digital inclusion.
Approximately, 20% of world population are persons with disabilities according to world health organization. A considerable number of persons with disabilities still face social isolation and loneliness.
The same case in digital systems across the world. Persons with disabilities are digitally excluded due to technology barriers included in digital services, environments and systems.
Whereas the United nation convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UNCRPD) article 9 promotes equal access to information communication and technology alongside the set of accessibility as a human right, persons with disabilities continue to face barriers while accessing digital services including web services.
As the world is shifting digital wise, millions of web users are still locked out and they are not enjoying the benefit of world web due to inaccessible web services and environments that limit web access.
Removing digital barriers can help in reaching sustainable and inclusive development as a center of UN sustainable development goals.
Seeing hands Rwanda with its partners aim at making digital world accessible to all especially persons with disabilities with a principle of leave no one behind.
Web accessibility as a key in reaching out accessible digital world.
Web accessibility means the design and development of web environments that provide equal access to users. Web accessibility is about creating web content, designs and tools that are accessible to everyone regardless of abilities and physical conditions. Web designers need to use tools and technology that support the adaptation of assistive technology used by persons with disabilities and people with difficulties using websites.
Benefits of web accessibility
Accessible web environments increase audience reach, reduce maintenance cost, provide better search results on all devices that load web content and demonstrate corporate social responsibility.
Accessible web content is beneficial not only to persons with disabilities but also to web designers and websites owners. Developing inaccessible web content lead websites owners into losing more than 40% of their audience affecting traffic benefits.
Two web evaluators and one partner representative standing along side them
Seeing hands Rwanda in partner with Awesamity Rwanda and GIZ has been evaluating selected government websites accessibility where all barriers encountered while accessing government online services were demonstrated.
1 woman and 2 men using computer with screen reader
The team of visually impaired people from seeing hands got involved in providing manual assessment of web accessibility of essential government websites.
Seeing hands trained government web designers about web accessibility using the obtained web accessibility results of monitored government websites.
Facilitator from seeing hands standing training about web accessibility
We believe that from the results presented, the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities in Rwanda will be reached.
Web designers promised to address the recommendations given to them and to consider making web environment accessible to everyone.
Seeing hands Rwanda believes that the Rwandan society will enjoy the benefit of accessible web services and now no one will be left behind in accessing government online services as Rwanda is quickly moving digital wise.
Do you have a website or a digital product?
Seeing hands is there to provide consultancy on digital inclusion and web accessibility as well as support to transform the digital environment through making them inclusive and accessible to everyone.
Seeing Hands Rwanda has assistive technology and well-trained specialists to support the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Hands of a person holding phone
Left hand holding while right hand typing
One person using the computer with screen reader
Get involved in digital inclusion.
You can join us in making the world a better place for all.
We accept cooperating with everyone through consultancy, training and evaluating web environments, digital products and services.
