Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) is spearheading an initiative to sensitize corporate organisations in Ghana on the need to make information accessible to persons with disabilities.
One of such activities took place in Accra on Tuesday September 6, 2022. A workshop was held for players in the extractive sector to educate them on how to make their reports and other information regarding the extractive industry accessible to the blind and partially sighted persons.
The workshop under the theme, “Promoting inclusive resource sector reporting in Ghana” was attended by Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD), among others.
The lead facilitator at the workshop, Ghana Blind Union (GBU) notes that “during this time of technological innovation, every person can potentially become a publisher of information that is used for providing vital resources to the general public. There are numerous resources for these publishers to learn how to create contents that do not exclude anyone from accessing and using them, but not everyone knows how to make information accessible for all forms of disabilities. However, it is important for everyone to be aware that information may not be accessible to different users depending on the way it is presented”.
The union also observes that with 15% of the world’s population estimated by the World Health Organisation as being persons with disabilities means that almost all of that percentage of people has one challenge or the other in accessing information, unless it is made accessible to them.
GBU is, therefore, advocating for inclusive information sharing that allows every user to access contents on an equal basis with others.
Some of the information channels that need to be made accessible, according to the union include online, audio, video, print material and images.
GBU further adds that “when creating online resources, the most important step towards accessibility is to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Use responsive web design which allows the content to adapt to the end users’ output devices. Check your web pages for accessibility issues using a three-step process: manual check, automated check and test by trusted users of assistive technology like screen readers, screen enlargement software and voice-input dictation”.
The blind union believes that all publishers aiming to achieve a minimum standard of information accessibility that is universally beneficial for all users will be contributing greatly to the realisation of the aim of the United Nations’ SDGs of “Leave no One Behind”.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com