training

Resources for the Blind, Inc. (RBI) in collaboration with IBM Philippines concluded the 8th National Computer Camp for Blind Students. Twenty (20) visually
impaired students from high school and college levels gathered for a week-long basic training in computer literacy – computer applications,
such as keyboard skills, word processing, web page creation, social Internet networks (Facebook & Friendster), and the use of adaptive software that enable
individuals to use computers regardless of blindness or visual impairment. This year’s participating students came from various schools across Luzon, Visayas
and Mindanao.

The training took place at the IBM Plaza, the computer giant’s headquarters located in Eastwood City Cyberpark in Libis, Quezon City last November 2-6,
2009. More than 170 visually impaired students from all over the country were trained under the program since its introduction in 2001. The Computer Eyes
training program is an exemplary model showing how technology has been bridging the gap for the visually impaired and the digital divide in the Philippines.

Right after the web accessibility workshop in Malaysia, we conducted another web accessibility seminar, this time in the Philippines. This event was a joint effort of Even Grounds and ATRIEV Computer School for the Blind.

Accessibility in the Philippines is gradually being recognized by more and more groups in the country. Through events such as this, we aim to further establish web accessibility as a standard and help present and future web developers create more accessible websites.

We have just finished conducting the first web accessibility workshop in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. This is the third web accessibility workshop Even Grounds has conducted in the country. It was a very good experience for us, and we are hoping that more individuals in Malaysia are now aware of the importance of web accessibility.

It was a year ago that I taught an accessibility course in South East Asia. Nine blind and visually impaired computer experts and teachers participated. We based the course on WCAG 2.0, which was not yet official at the time. Students who graduated the course has made a great progress towards promoting accessibility in the region. Here I will outline what happened in the last year after the course. If you are not familiar with the project, read the paper I have presented at the CSUN conference in March, 2009.

Presented at CSUN, March 21, 2009

Presented by:

• Tom Babinszki, Even Grounds, Director
• Larry Campbell, Overbrook International Program Director

Introduction

Under the sponsorship of the Overbrook-Nippon Network on Educational Technology (ON-NET), we conducted a web accessibility course online during the first half of 2008, and face-to-face in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in June of 2008. The purpose of the course was to teach blind and visually impaired people about web accessibility, equipping them to work as accessibility consultants and trainers in their own countries. There is still much work that needs to be done in the South East Asian region on accessibility. For example, there is a need for more accessibility trainers, work opportunities, and, of course, accessible web sites. This paper will discuss the process of conducting a WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.0 course, including the challenges and lessons learned during the course and its follow-up in order to facilitate further work and share experience with those who are interested in contributing to web accessibility in the South East Asian region.

Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV), is an organization in the Philippines doing wonderful service for blind and visually impaired people. I got to know them in connection with a course which I taught in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in June, 2008. I had several participants from ATRIEV, and I had a chance to learn about their services.

Alexandria, VA - April 30, 2008

A group of visually impaired people in Southeast Asia are participating in a web accessibility course, sponsored by the Overbrook-Nippon Network on Educational Technology. Even Grounds, a Washington DC based accessibility company is conducting a 12 week online course followed by a one week intensive training in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.