Improving access to information for persons with disabilities in Uruguay
08-12-2005 (Montevideo)
As part of UNESCO’s strategy of "digital inclusion for social inclusion", School Nr 198 for special education in Montevideo was recently provided with six computers and a Braille printer.
This school is one of only two schools for special education in all over Uruguay. The project‘s aim is to provide one PC in the classroom with individual support for the kids.
“We wish to develop the school as a model of how ICT supported education can support especially blind and deaf students” says UNESCO project manager Günter Cyranek, explaining that the use of software to learn Braille as early as possible will improve the intellectual capabilities of blind children. In addition, audio output will provide blind students access to libraries, to email and Internet.
The project was developed in cooperation with Lions Club Montevideo, and the Catholic University of Chile provided the training for the teachers.
The participants of the opening ceremony with welcome addresses of the head of school, authorities of the Ministry of Education and Culture for special education, the Lions Club Montevideo and UNESCO applauded a theatre play that visually impaired and deaf students presented.
ICT have a great potential to significantly improve the lives of the hundreds of millions people worldwide suffering from various disabilities.
ICT offer them the ability to compensate for physical or functional limitations, thus allowing them to enhance their social and economic integration in communities by enlarging the scope of activities available to them.
UNESCO works with its partners to promote the use of ICT for access to information and knowledge for all persons, including those with disabilities.
“We wish to develop the school as a model of how ICT supported education can support especially blind and deaf students” says UNESCO project manager Günter Cyranek, explaining that the use of software to learn Braille as early as possible will improve the intellectual capabilities of blind children. In addition, audio output will provide blind students access to libraries, to email and Internet.
The project was developed in cooperation with Lions Club Montevideo, and the Catholic University of Chile provided the training for the teachers.
The participants of the opening ceremony with welcome addresses of the head of school, authorities of the Ministry of Education and Culture for special education, the Lions Club Montevideo and UNESCO applauded a theatre play that visually impaired and deaf students presented.
ICT have a great potential to significantly improve the lives of the hundreds of millions people worldwide suffering from various disabilities.
ICT offer them the ability to compensate for physical or functional limitations, thus allowing them to enhance their social and economic integration in communities by enlarging the scope of activities available to them.
UNESCO works with its partners to promote the use of ICT for access to information and knowledge for all persons, including those with disabilities.
Related themes/countries
· Uruguay
· People with disabilities and ICT: News Archives 2005
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