Eliminating disability digital divide in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Differently-abled People are not having equal opportunities to access information technology and systems compared to the normal population in Sri Lanka. The purpose of this research is to find reasons behind the digital divide among the people with disabilities in Sri Lanka and propose a set of guidelines to bridging the gap to eliminate disability digital divide in Sri Lanka. The first phase of this research discusses literature behind the digital divide, disability digital divide, the information age, and the development of ICT in Sri Lanka. In the second phase in order to collect information in the Sri Lankan disability digital divide, interviews were conducted with a range of government representatives and 85 disabled computer users and trainers of them in the Ranawiru Sewana Ragama and Abimansala. Collected data were analysed based on qualitative approach according to four themes. In addition to that frequency analysis was used to find the most important accessibility problems and issues faced by this community. Experimental design is based on a four-dimensional framework. It includes training and development, low-cost software and technology, awareness programmes and improving quality of life. The outcome of this research indicates that Sri Lanka has taken several actions to eliminate the issue. Nanasala project via ICTA, improvements of telecommunication infrastructure and other development projects in private and public sectors are similar to solutions in developed nations. Survey results indicated that many more Sri Lankan people with disabilities are reluctant to use these systems and technologies due to poverty, lack of awareness, lack of interest and English language issues. Most of the differently-abled people who are using Nanasala do not have their own computers. The high cost associated with licence software, lack of screen reading software and other supporting software and lack of training for them are the main issues. Lack of special trainers for training them is another considerable factor. The research proposes four main areas of implementations under the tested four dimensions to eliminate the Sri Lankan disability digital divide. These main areas are 1.) training and development, 2.) economic infrastructure development of disabled community, 3.) awareness and 4.) encouragement programmes. The above proposed implementations will be advantageous to the differently-abled community. By implementing these recommendations, they can be actively involved in the process of making Sri Lanka acknowledge and commerce hub in Asia.