The Adaptive Technology Programme® (ATP), a first in the
country and in the region, proposes an IT learning and
capacity-building activity dedicated to the visually impaired in
Lebanon. This programme is delivered through two mobile computer
schools, the ‘Saradar IT Programme®’
and the ‘E-Caravan®’, which roam clusters of villages to
introduce the world of Information Technology (IT) to
marginalised social groups. Training sessions range from
beginners’ courses to courses for future trainers. The ATP
beneficiaries are mobilised by a network of competent NGOs in
Beirut and in the regions supervised by the Youth Association of
the Blind - Lebanon (YAB). Both mobile hubs have been equipped
with special hardware and software featuring Arabic contents
developed to facilitate the access of blind people to computers
and the Internet.
During the first phase of the project, from July 2006 to April
2007, the ATP will deliver one Trainers session in Beirut and
three other courses in Tripoli (North) and Nabatieh (South).
Trainers will then relocate to ensure the required training in
the mentioned areas. The training activity is implemented in
cooperation with YAB.
At a time when Information has become the key to sustainable
development, we must recognize that people with special needs in
Lebanon are still standing on the other side of the river since
they don't have access to Information Technology or any other
source of information. Given the increasing spread of
Information Technology worldwide and the availability of
Adaptive Technology for the blind even on the Lebanese market,
we have initiated this project in order to create a link between
this disadvantaged group and certain means of socio-economic
integration: first in the capital where the number of visually
impaired is very high, and then in remote areas and rural towns
which are particularly disadvantaged or affected by poverty and
isolation (such as Tripoli, Jounieh, Jbeil, Saida, Damour, Iqlim
el Kharroub, Nabatieh and the Bekaa Valley). Women and children
are the most marginalised categories among this population with
additional needs. Their exclusion shows at two levels: 1) they
initially belong to vulnerable groups in the current
socio-economic context; 2) they suffer from disabilities, which
make their integration even more difficult.
The ‘Saradar IT Programme®’ (SITP)
and the ‘E-Caravan®’ (E-C) seek to address the digital
divide among people with disabilities. In order to reach them
efficiently, the SITP has developed the ‘Adaptive Technology
Programme®’ (ATP) in partnership with the YAB. The project
advocates combating the lack of IT awareness and IT education
among underprivileged and marginalised communities, especially
among persons with additional needs who find themselves lagging
behind and disadvantaged on the job market.
The caravan is the ideal learning and training solution as it
meets targeted communities in their own environment. These
populations, despite their limited resources, are very much
aware of the importance of IT in improving their productivity,
as well as their working and living conditions. IT training has
become a pre-requisite for increasing their chances of
benefiting from a better social and economic situation, which in
turn would lead to a better social integration.
1. Purchasing of equipment and software During this stage of the project, equipment and
software were purchased for training purposes thanks to a
financial contribution granted by Oxfam-Québec and CIDA.
Personal computers, printers and scanners as well as specially
designed Arabic speaking software for the visually impaired were
distributed to the designated beneficiaries of this initiative:
Youth Association for the Blind located in Beirut and Nabil
Badran School for Sensory Handicapped Children based in Tyre.
2. The Training Activity
Training of the Trainers (TOT)
The TOT session started on July 10, 2006. Candidates
attended the course at YAB headquarters in Beirut. When the
war broke out on July 12, the training continued until July
14, but soon the activity was interrupted due to the
deterioration of the situation on the ground. Immediately
after the cease-fire was declared, YAB resumed the TOT
session on August 21st. A total of thirty-six training hours
were delivered to the participants.
The first training session
After the successful completion of the Training of the
Trainers session, YAB mobilized and implemented the second
training phase. On September 18, sixteen participants were
scheduled for a 60 hour-training course. Sessions were held
at YAB offices from September to November.
The second training session
As scheduled, an IT capacity-building course was held in
Tripoli, in partnership with YAB and in cooperation with ‘Al
I’zzat wa al Saadah Association’, from February 17 to April
14, 2007. The course welcomed 16 candidates from the area
who enrolled in a 60-hour training session.
The Adaptive Technology Programme®plans four training
sessions: one dedicated to the Training of Trainers and three
others targeting visually impaired beneficiaries. All courses
are followed by graduation ceremonies in the selected locations:
The Canadian Fund for Social Development
The Canadian Fund for Social Development is financed by the
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and its
projects are implemented by Oxfam-Québec. Its main objective is
to contribute to the sustainable improvement of life conditions
of Lebanon’s most deprived populations. Its stated goal is to
create and multiply opportunities for Lebanese civil society
actors to take on leadership roles, while implementing
sustainable development initiatives to the benefit of the most
disadvantaged communities.
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
The "CIDA" is Canada’s lead agency for development assistance.
It has a mandate to support sustainable development in
developing countries in order to reduce poverty and contribute
to a more secure, fair, and prosperous world.
Oxfam-Québec
Oxfam-Québec is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian,
non-governmental organisation (NGO). A main actor in supporting
development since 1973, Oxfam-Québec founds its action on
partnerships and on an integrated development approach.
Oxfam-Québec supports sustainable development in more than 20
countries, in cooperation with local partners. It also favours
local development, as well as the institutional reinforcement of
its partners and of the civil society.
Oxfam-Québec extends humanitarian action in cases of natural
disaster or conflicts, by intervening in emergency situations,
reconstruction or rehabilitation, through social training and
peace-building.
Youth Association of the Blind - Lebanon (YAB)
The "YAB" is a Lebanese non-governmental and non-profit national
organization with a regional dimension. YAB has no religious or
political affiliation. It believes in full participation and
equal opportunities, and refuses all kinds of discrimination.
Its overall goal is the full integration of the blind and
visually impaired in all spheres of society. For that, it
follows specific strategies, namely advocacy, pilot projects and
networking, allowing the visually impaired to access all their
rights and benefit from support services in a society for all.
The Association was established in Beirut in October 1988 and
registered in the Lebanese Government in May 1990 (licence no.
a.d/57).
To achieve its goal, YAB carries out the following programs and
activities:
- Awareness Raising and Advocacy: implementing the national
special legislation (law no. 220 on The Rights of Persons
with Disabilities); developing the skills of the blind in
the fields of leadership and advocacy, networking, on a
national scale, with organisations of the visually impaired,
of the disabled and of the civil society in general…
- Inclusive education: YAB has implemented, since 1993, the
pilot project "Integrating blind and visually impaired
children in ordinary schools within local communities".
- Tertiary education: YAB provides blind and visually
impaired students at universities in Lebanon with support
services to ensure their integration and independence.
- The National Talking Library: it is the only public
library for the blind and visually impaired in Lebanon.
- Sports: YAB organizes sports activities such as
gymnastics, swimming, chess and “ring-ball”.
- Youth: activities target both the blind and the sighted
youth. YAB has chaired the Committee on Youth Affairs at the
World Blind Union since 2000 and at the Asian Blind Union
since 2002.
- Gender Issues: YAB organizes workshops on gender and
disability issues.
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1. Purchasing of equipment and software
