Entry Tech Innovation and Analysis Heart, a Lagos-based non-profit centered on digital inclusion for blind people, has launched GiveTechToTheBlind, a brand new platform designed to attach blind individuals who want assistive know-how with donors keen to fund these units.
The platform, launched on Tuesday, allows blind customers to request assistive tech merchandise from speaking wrist watches to sensible canes and donors to pay immediately for objects, making certain transparency and tailor-made help.
In response to the Nigeria Optometric Affiliation (NOA), there are about seven million blind Nigerians, making the nation dwelling to one of many largest populations of blind people in Africa. As a stepping stone to raised residing, Nigeria has the Discrimination Towards Individuals With Disabilities Prohibition Act. But, many face important limitations to independence.
Individuals with disabilities in Nigeria typically expertise excessive ranges of unemployment and restricted entry to revenue, which makes it tough to afford even fundamental assistive instruments. A white cane now prices a minimum of $12, whereas software program just like the JAWS display screen reader, which allows blind folks to make use of computer systems and entry the web, ranges between $350–$450. Many blind Nigerians can’t entry the units that will allow them to take part totally in on a regular basis actions.
Akinola mentioned this problem impressed the creation of GiveTechToTheBlind, including that whereas many visually impaired folks can’t afford assistive units, keen donors typically don’t know the place to search out these in want or the place to buy the proper instruments.
“There are lots of individuals who would like to help visually impaired individuals by offering assistive tech units, however they don’t know easy methods to attain them and even the place to get these units,” he mentioned. “The platform bridges that hole, connecting keen donors on to verified wants.”
Right here’s the way it works: A visually impaired particular person registers on the platform and submits a request for a selected assistive gadget. Entry Tech professionals then confirm the request to make sure it’s real and matches the particular person’s wants. As soon as a donor pays for the merchandise, the recipient is notified and invited to gather it at an Entry Tech middle, the place they need to current a sound nationwide ID earlier than receiving the gadget.
Though GiveTechToTheBlind is constructed to scale throughout Africa, Akinola mentioned Entry Tech selected to launch in Nigeria first to check the mannequin and refine it earlier than increasing elsewhere.
“We considered different African international locations, however we have to begin from dwelling first to realize traction earlier than scaling to different elements of Africa,” he mentioned. “Assistive know-how is crucial for each visually impaired particular person, however the construction we have now on floor proper now can solely help Nigeria. With partnerships and help, we all know we are going to scale rapidly to different African international locations.”
GiveTechToTheBlind is Entry Tech’s flagship initiative and builds on its different applications, together with digital expertise coaching and an Assistive Expertise Expertise Heart, the place visually impaired folks can discover and be taught to make use of completely different units. Since its launch, the platform has attracted over 50 blind individuals who have registered.
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