Digital skills for people who are blind

DW (English)

A software engineer in Nigeria is teaching digital skills to people who are blind or have low vision. He aims to show that in the digital age, a disability no longer means exclusion from the workforce.

Transcript

00:01Elizabeth Abiodun is on her way to AccessTech.

00:04This tech center was founded in Lagos, Nigeria.

00:07It helps blind people learn to use computers and software.

00:11Founder Opeoluwa Akinola knows from personal experience just how difficult it can be to

00:16find a job with a disability.

00:18As a young graduate back then, I wanted a job, I had good qualifications, but nobody

00:24was employing me because they believed then that blind people could not work in a standard

00:29office.

00:30And I found out that technology could break that barrier.

00:33The course combines traditional aids with modern technology.

00:37Participants practice using screen readers, bright note takers and voice recognition software.

00:43This enables them to work independently.

00:45They can learn programming, data analysis or working with word processors.

00:50As a student, honestly, it just gives me this confidence that once I get there I'll be able

00:57to deliver would not be inferior to my fellow students.

01:02Digital skills are vital during studies and for all kinds of careers.

01:06Former participants are now helping others to learn the skills.

01:10Last year I came here to learn Python programming for data analysis and at the end of the program

01:18I was retained and I was employed as a training facilitator.

01:24Anything digital skills training, I facilitated the web development, Python programming, Excel

01:31for data analysis, Office, Microsoft Office suits.

01:36The course empowers graduates to combat the prejudice and take the job market head on.

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