------------------ 1. What are the different challenges facing persons with disabilities and specific needs (e.g. lack of ICT skill sets etc.) in accessing and using the Internet? Persons with disabilities first of all come under the purview of unemployment or limited access to employment. Due to this reason, they are furnished with limited financial resources and assets. When there is less or no financial capabilities, possessing mobile handsets/ ICT applications which enable their productivity at work-places is a far dream. With no finances, acquiring higher education is also a challenge. Hence gaining knowledge in ICT skill sets would also be a challenge. This would further hinder their progress in gaining access to their specific needs in usage of the Internet and ICT applications etc 2. What possible approaches and examples of good practices are available to address these challenges? Barriers to employment for Persons with Disabilities must be eliminated. Providing productive jobs with access to ICT devices and applications leads to enhanced awareness and also increased quest for knowledge. Enhanced knowledge and skill employment generates higher financial assets. Thus providing a platform for access to –based the ICT infrastructure and the Internet. 3. What are the gaps in addressing these challenges and how can these gaps be filled? Maximizing the ICT penetration index in all countries to provide the ICT devices and infrastructure to the marginalized sections of society is a vital step. Also equipping these devices to persons located in remote locations – rural areas in a country is important. Increasing availability of the ICT devices and enhancing awareness for usage of these devices among the Specially persons’ community would further increase employment and lead to –abled Inclusive and Full Participation of the society at large. Thus progressing the socio value of society! –economic 4. What is the role of governments in addressing these challenges and gaps? The government ideally perform the functions of enhancing the affordability and availability of the ICT devices in order to maximize its reach to the poor and specially marginalized sections of society. Creating platforms –abled for awareness and skill building programmes and vocational training to cater to the ICT skill sets and Internet skills
------------------ 1. What are the different challenges facing persons with disabilities and specific needs (e.g. lack of ICT skill sets etc.) in accessing and using the Internet? Persons with disabilities first of all come under the purview of unemployment or limited access to employment. Due to this reason, they are furnished with limited financial resources and assets. When there is less or no financial capabilities, possessing mobile handsets/ ICT applications which enable their productivity at work-places is a far dream. With no finances, acquiring higher education is also a challenge. Hence gaining knowledge in ICT skill sets would also be a challenge. This would further hinder their progress in gaining access to their specific needs in usage of the Internet and ICT applications etc 2. What possible approaches and examples of good practices are available to address these challenges? Barriers to employment for Persons with Disabilities must be eliminated. Providing productive jobs with access to ICT devices and applications leads to enhanced awareness and also increased quest for knowledge. Enhanced knowledge and skill –based employment generates higher financial assets. Thus providing a platform for access to the ICT infrastructure and the Internet. 3. What are the gaps in addressing these challenges and how can these gaps be filled? Maximizing the ICT penetration index in all countries to provide the ICT devices and infrastructure to the marginalized sections of society is a vital step. Also equipping these devices to persons located in remote locations – rural areas in a country is important. Increasing availability of the ICT devices and enhancing awareness for usage of these devices among the Specially –abled persons’ community would further increase employment and lead to Inclusive and Full Participation of the society at large. Thus progressing the socio –economic value of society! 4. What is the role of governments in addressing these challenges and gaps? The government ideally perform the functions of enhancing the affordability and availability of the ICT devices in order to maximize its reach to the poor and specially –abled marginalized sections of society. Creating platforms for awareness and skill building programmes and vocational training to cater to the ICT skill sets and Internet skills
002-compilation_rev.2.docx