Bridging the Digital Divide: Enhancing Accessibility for Visually Impaired Rwandans

A new study unveiled by the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) at a conference on inclusion and digital accessibility on October 11th, 2024, highlights the current challenges faced by persons with visual impairments (PVIs) in accessing digital services. Despite Rwanda’s advancements in digital integration, persons with visual impairments encounter difficulties due to inaccessible digital platforms.

The study found that 48% of respondents do not use assistive technology, while 52% rely on tools like screen readers. Furthermore, 40% of respondents struggle to access digital services independently, with 50.1% requiring assistance and only 9.07% able to access them with less difficulty.

Moreover, the survey revealed that 68% of respondents find assistive technologies to be too expensive, highlighting a barrier to access for many persons with visual impairments. Additionally, 31.4% of respondents are unaware of the costs associated with these technologies.

These statistics underscore the need for increased advocacy and action to improve digital accessibility for persons with visual impairments in Rwanda.

Dr. Beth MUKARWEGO, Chairperson of RUB, stated that RUB conducted this research on the status of persons with visual impairments using assistive technology, interviewing 306 persons from 12 districts to discuss challenges and their experiences.

She revealed that many visually impaired persons lack knowledge about technology usage, while others, particularly those with education, have some knowledge about using smartphones and laptops.

She discussed the need for assistance in certain activities, such as reading PDF documents on smartphones. She mentioned that they may need an assistant to complete certain tasks, or the software itself may not be accessible for them to read. “If they cannot read the document, they may need to seek someone to read it for them, who may need to be paid for the service.”

She said, “So, for people who are blind, most of them are financially weak, and they cannot be able to pay for these services. The technology has some services that are not disability-friendly for people who are blind. And therefore, maybe they need to be modified.”

She added, “The research aimed to explore ways to enable individuals with visual impairments to access assistive technology independently, as they often cannot afford such services relying on others.”

Dr. Mukarwego recommended that individuals with visual impairments, starting from primary school, should be educated and trained on using assistive technology, which should be accessible and affordable, as losing vision can lead to dependence.

She said, “With the use of technology today if you know how to use it, you will depend less on other people. So, the dependence will be reduced because you can even direct yourself on a motorcycle with your phone and you know where you are going. So, this will help people with visual impairments to live a life that is enjoyable and independent.”

The Executive Director of RUB, Dr. Donatilla KANIMBA, highlighted Rwanda’s successful initiative of an orbit reader, which enables blind pupils or students to access necessary content. This allows teachers and students to download downloadable books or those made available electronically by REB, thereby increasing accessibility and inclusion for individuals with visual impairments.

She said, “It’s called an orbit reader 20; this is the one that we are using in Rwanda; it has 20 characters on the braille display. So, you can be able to use that; you can also be able to use a smartphone or a laptop to communicate with the orbit reader.”

She mentioned that a braille display, accessible through smartphones, is also a potential assistive device for blind individuals, but it is not yet available in Rwanda. The cost of these devices is a significant challenge, especially for blind individuals, unless funded by someone else.

She emphasized the significant role of RUB in restoring lost skills and enabling individuals to regain functionality, highlighting examples of assistive technologies used in Masaka rehabilitation center, such as computers that talk to individuals, parking sprayers, and white canes, that help individuals regain their ability to use everyday tasks.

Calixte IKUZWE, a specialist in accessibility and assistive technology, and a member of the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) said that he studied Economics at a university, but was denied ICT subjects due to the university’s belief that blind people couldn’t study ICT. He attributed this to the limited choices available to blind people at the time, which forced him to choose Economics as his second option instead of ICT.

He discussed the challenges faced by people with disabilities due to stereotypes and stigma in society. People often view disabilities as limitations, this issue is present in various sectors, including education. Despite these challenges, they are gradually changing. Calixte’s university experiences show that while challenges have decreased with increased involvement, stigma and stereotypes persist. The journey towards overcoming these barriers is ongoing.

Calixte, highlighted that now with his familiarity with assistive technology, can perform tasks such as identifying lifestyles, currencies, reading documents, creating digital content, web design, coding programs, and checking website accessibility. He has completed numerous ICT courses and believes he can perform any task with reasonable accommodation.

He stated the survey they conducted involving individuals with visual impairments and stakeholders in ICT and content digitalization, revealed that they face significant challenges in accessing digital content, particularly in rural areas, due to lack of awareness about digital devices and tools.

“The survey revealed that affordable assistive technology devices are difficult to afford in rural Rwanda, and many face barriers related to technology skills and navigation. Additionally, some digital content is not accessible due to designers and developers not considering accessibility,” said Calixte.

He recommended collaboration with public institutions, the government, and partners to improve accessibility of assistive technology and devices in rural areas and the Rwandan market, ensuring affordability and considering the needs of persons with disabilities in the ICT sector.

He said, “Content developers should consider including persons with disabilities in their clients and beneficiaries when creating digital content or designing digital products.”

Moreover, the survey revealed challenges to the REB website, including an illogical heading structure, language attributes, and images lacking alternative text, affecting screen reader navigation and accessibility, and limiting access for visually impaired users.