In Uganda, an estimated 885,000 people live with a mild form of deafblindness and over 88,000 live with a severe form of deafblindness.*
*World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB), 2018 At risk of exclusion from CRPD and SDGs implementation: Inequality and persons with deafblindness.
People with deafblindness in Uganda encounter many barriers on regular basis while also facing the challenges of communication gaps.
The 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda guarantees the right to equality and freedom from discrimination. The ICT policy for persons with disabilities in Uganda describes ICT as communication that includes languages, display of text, Braille, tactile communication, large print, accessible multimedia as well as written, audio, plain-language. The main objective of The ICT policy for disability is to use ICT as a measure for reducing the marginalisation of persons with disabilities and for creating equal opportunities by closing the gaps in access and use of ICT tools.
The Uganda Communications Commission is mandated under section 5 of (the Uganda Communications Act 2013) to promote research into the development and use of new technologies including those which promote accessibility to communications service for persons with disabilities. This, for a long time, has been one of the greatest barriers to people with deafblindness in accessing services.
Access to technology can be a game-changer for people with deafblindness, providing new ways to access information, communicate with others, and participate in daily life. These resources will enable people with deafblindness and those that support them to live, learn, and thrive.