Leveraging Technology to Create an Inclusive Environment for PWDs

During the summer break, Ashesi D-lab in partnership with Tech Era – an award-winning social enterprise that facilitates and provides practical, relevant and inclusive tech education – and with Dextra (a Canadian social enterprise and engineering company) created capacity for teachers and students at a workshop designed to equip them with skills in assistive technology. This workshop hosted experts in engineering and innovation to teach participants ways to create assistive technologies for children with disabilities.

The workshop focused on developing the capacities and abilities of students and teachers in using 3D technology, programming, electronics, and design to equip persons with disabilities through empowering them to have access to employment opportunities and education to meet an appreciable level of social inclusion. Participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to change and transform the lives of Persons living With Disabilities (PWDs) by creating scaled and/or mass-produced 3D solutions to help them.

The 9th of August 2019 also saw the launch of the AT (Assistive Technology) Makerspace Hub, which is a collaborated effort between Ashesi D-Lab, Tech Era, Dextra, and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation held at the British Council, which is the first of its kind in Ghana and Africa. The AT Makerspace seeks to offer more assistive devices and equipment at affordable rates to aid PWDs.

A newly developed audio assistant AI the visually impaired can study and solve past questions just like any student was also launched on the day. The inclusive software (IXAM) was created to change how visually impaired students write exams and review past exams questions. This solution seeks to help – and be used by – more than 4000 students with visual impairment in Ghana every year. Ashesi D-lab is proud to be associated with the project which seeks to engage the involvement of students and people within the scope of engineering and design to improve lives and empower more PWDs in the society.