Information and Communication Technology from the Point of View of a Person Afflicted Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Access to information and communication technologies like mobile phones, the Internet, and computers is essential to develop not only the economy of the country but also its people. With the growth of such technologies and the increased number of people using ICTs, the United Nations (UN) will no doubt fulfill one of its development goals - that is, to make the benefits of new technologies available to all, particularly to developing countries. The word "all" in that premise includes persons with disabilities. This study then delves into the use of information and communication technologies by persons with disability and answers how and why they use such technologies.

The data generated from the interviews with the subject, a person afflicted cerebral palsy, a sample of a person with disability, and the observations prove that although he is aware of ICTs and use it personally, there are still barriers to their access to such technologies (e.g., lack of awareness, affordability, type of disability). It was also interesting to learn the reasons for significance of using ICT from the perspective of a person who has cerebral palsy. The reasons why and how he utilize ICTs may be simple and different from another person of disability, but they are essential in understanding the needs of persons with disability in general in order to address the issues of accessibility to ICTs and digital divide.