Information Communication Technology (ICT) is becoming a key driver for the successful employment of Person with Disabilities (PwDs) due to its permeation and proliferation of ICT in the world of work. ICT has changed how people build their skills, how they search for work, how they do their work, etc. The internet and digital technologies are also changing how entrepreneurs, people who are self-employed, and free-lancers are raising capital, finding clients, and selling services. Many PwDs pursue self-employment due to the barriers of getting jobs in the competitive labour market. The internet and digital technologies are changing the field of self-employment and entrepreneurship through online work.
Digital technologies have brought unprecedented opportunities to the Asia-Pacific region, where PwDs, on the one hand, face challenges in tapping the potentials presented by the Internet and on the other hand could significantly improve their employment and entrepreneurship. The Rehabilitation International Asia and Pacific Regional Conference 2019 (RIAPRC 2019) offers a back to back workshop to better prepared the candidates for the digital era.
The Workshops on Accessible Information Communication Technology and Web-Based Vocational Skill was conducted on 23 – 25 June 2019 cum RI Asia Regional Conference 2019. The three days workshop was well structured and balanced, with 50% focused on Accessible Information Communication Technology tools and skills, whereas the other 50% focused on Vocational Skills. The purpose and objectives were to provide a training opportunity on accessible information and technology, to provide a platform for exchange and sharing of disability-inclusive and innovation and to promote an inclusive and harmonious community through web accessibility and information.
Purpose and objectives
To provide a training opportunity on accessible information and technology.
To provide a platform for exchange and sharing of disability-inclusive and innovation.
To promote an inclusive and harmonious community through web accessibility and information.
Delegates
There were 37 delegates at the Workshops with 5-8 hop-ins and hop-outs non-registered delegates. Out of the 37 attendees, 17 were funded by GDDF and 20 were funded by the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disability.
National and regional distribution of delegates | ||
National and Regional | Number of people | Percentage |
Australia | 1 | 2.7% |
Brazil | 3 | 8.1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 2.7% |
China (Beijing) | 1 | 2.7% |
China (Guangzhou) | 1 | 2.7% |
China (Hong Kong) | 15 | 40.6% |
China (Macao) | 3 | 8.1% |
India | 3 | 8.1% |
Indonesia | 2 | 5.4% |
Malaysia | 2 | 5.4% |
Nepal | 2 | 5.4% |
Philippines | 3 | 8.1% |
Total | 37 | 100% |
Evaluation
A questionnaire was set to measure the responses on the Contents, the instructors, and the delegates’ objectives check for each session of the workshop. The results were very positive and were at the upper quartile for good and excellent rate. The delegates agreed that the objectives of the workshops were well-defined and allowed them to acquire new knowledge and ideas to enhance their personal development in Accessible Information Communication Technology. The delegates claimed they could effectively learn about the tools and skills from the contents of the workshop. They also agreed the content pertained to their current job profile. The knowledge they gained was practical and abled them to apply the skills they learned onto work, business or organization.
It was suggested that the duration of similar future workshops could be longer. It would allow more time for hands-on experience and would make the delegates less intense. Also, it would be useful to send the delegates any course booklets and materials sooner so that they could preview and appreciate the workshops’ objective and outlines. After the workshops, it would also be useful to allow the download of the workshops’ contents for sharing, also providing a recap of the sessions to help refresh their memory.
Overall, the Workshop was highly appreciated by the delegates. It was a successful workshop that the delegates had learned the course subjects well and were happy to bring home to share with their organization, or to help with their employment. It is planned to conduct a further post-workshop follow-up evaluation in 9 months, which will be held in February 2020.
Three Days Workshop Program (Tentative)
| 22 June, 2019 | ||
| from 09:00 | Arrival & Registration | |
| 18:30 – 20:00 | Dinner | |
| 23 June, 2019 (Day 1) | ICT Assistive Tools and Web Accessibility | Speakers |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Microsoft Assistive Tools (PDF Download1 Download2) | Aiken Sam- Microsoft |
| 11:00 – 12:30 | ICT Accessibility and its Impacts (PDF Download1 Download2) | SAHK – Dr. Ivan Su |
| 13:30 – 15:00 | Web Accessibility WCAG 2.1 and Training I | Terry Wong and WAFA Team |
| 15:30 – 17:00 | Web Accessibility WCAG 2.1 and Training II (PDF Download1 Download2) | |
| 17:00 – 17:30 | Q & A Discussion | |
| 18:00 – 20:30 | Welcome dinner | |
| 24 June, 2019 (Day 2) | Daisy Products training | Speakers |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | DAISY Introduction | (Mr. Hiroyuki Murakami /Tatsuo Nishizawa – JSRPD) |
| 11:00 – 12:30 | HANDS on Training of DAISY (PDF Download1 Download2) | |
| 13:30 – 15:00 | Let’s find DAISY (PDF1 Download1 Download2) (PDF2 Download1 Download2) (PDF3 Download1 Download2) | |
| 15:30 – 17:00 | Hong Kong DAISY Experience (PDF Download1 Download2) | Lynda Chung and CBPC Team |
| 17:00 – 17:30 | Q & A Discussion | |
| 25 June, 2019 (Day 3) | Web Based development | Speakers |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Canyou eCommerce (ENG PDF Download1 Download2) (CN PDF Download1 Download2) | Mr. Huang Fei-Hong – Canyou |
| 11:00 – 12:30 | ||
| 13:30 – 15:00 | Modern Web Design (PDF Download1 Download2) | Prof. T.H. Tse – The University of Hong Kong |
| 15:30 – 17:00 | Web Development without Coding: Real-World Experience with the RI Regional Conference Website (PDF Download1 Download2) | Danny Pak-kin Fan – AIDA |
| 17:00 – 17:30 | Q & A Discussion | |
| 17:30 – 18:00 | Closing ceremony and presentation of certificate of attendance |
