Today is the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It means that all around the world, people with and without disabilities aim to "promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.¹

This year, the theme is Sustainable Development and Technology. In this day and age, technology holds promise as never before. It brings with it anticipation, excitement, and hope that all people with disabilities, all over the globe, will benefit from the advances that accompany new technologies! This is also the last celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities within the era of the Millennium Development Goals. 2015 will see the start of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to frame the development work for the next 15 years to come.

Technology: It’s great, but is it fair?

To me, access to technology is not fair, is not clear and for people like me is sometimes a bit bizarre. In the United Kingdom, I hear of teenagers using tablets every day at school to improve their performance, I witness my nephews using phone applications to understand their mathematics, I observe children using interactive web-learning activities in museums to better embrace our heritage. I actually think this is all fantastic!

However, I wonder why such advances in technology have not reached faster and more efficiently the millions of children in developing countries, and more specifically all children with disabilities who are part of tomorrow’s generation?

How come we are capable of having mobile networks and internet access in the most remote places on the planet yet still can’t provide basic services like access to clean water, health, and education? Has the world gone mad?

Technology: a huge advantage for children with disabilties!

Today, I don’t want to try to influence policy-makers. I don’t want to think about the SDGs, about targets, indicators, implementation, accountability mechanisms, data revolution, etc. I want to take the time to think. To think about these children with disabilities, who, with a bit of support, common sense, and love already benefit from technological advances.

I am thinking about Lavitra2 in the state of Jharkhand in India. Lavitra became blind when he was 8 years old, after a severe infection. Lavitra, who is now 15, told Sightsavers that he will never forget the day when he “thought everything was lost”, when he thought his independence and his future had vanished. He stayed at home for five years until 2012, when Sightsavers’ partner Chetna Vikas, as part of the Jharkland Inclusive Education project, visited Lavitra in his house. They facilitated his return to school, with the support he needed to perform well.

Lavitra is now fluent in Braille and uses his DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) Player to learn. This beautiful technology system is an audio substitute for print material and is specifically designed for use by people with print disabilities, including blindness, low vision, and dyslexia. With it, Lavitra can learn and can be proud again. He said it himself:

“I am in 9th class and enjoy going to school, playing with friends. I  regularly participate in sports and games, singing, braille and quiz competitions and winning awards and appreciations. My confidence level has increased and I feel proud to share my experience and technology based learning in State & Regional Level”.

Today, I am also thinking about the 68 blind students who attend Wechi Senior High School in Ghana together with other students without disabilities. Thanks to the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), each student with visual impairment received a free laptop to enhance their learning. Do the math: it means 68 computers -- quite an achievement!

These students used to solely attend the ICT theory lessons but they are now putting into practice their knowledge. They also go online to access information themselves without relying on their sighted students. They can confidently receive the education they deserve!

Good, but not good enough - yet!

But the world is not doing enough. Lavitra should not have had to stay at home for five years without being offered the right to go to school and use assistive technology.

The 68 blind students from Wechi senior high school should not have had to wait for so many years before being given the laptops that are so crucial to their learning.

We have to stop excluding the most marginalized just because their voices are not the loudest. The world has the technology, the power to reach everyone, and ensure each and every one of us is a contributing member of this society.

When are we going to use technology to the best of its potential? Will the SDGs help? The next 15 years will tell.

Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities!

Thank you to my colleagues Sabitra Kundu and Prasanna Kumar in India for sharing with me the story of Lavitra. Thank you also to my colleague Getty Oforiwa Fefoame in Ghana as well as ICEVI Africa and the FCs/ associations (family-centred services) for sharing the story of Wechi Senior High School.

Marion Steff, PhD., is Policy Advisor (Social Inclusion and Education) at Sightsavers