Digital world must be more inclusive: Activist

Chennai: The global inclusion leader and differently-abled rights activist Haben Girma called for digital inclusion by creating services and products which will allow access in multiple ways to the benefit of the differently abled.

The Harvard Law School’s first deaf-blind graduate from US was speaking at the IIT Madras on the topic ‘access in education’ on Monday. The programme was jointly organised by Connect Special and Shaastra, IIT Madras.

“You can convert digital information into anything and allow people to access that information in many different ways. If you provide tools that will allow them to work and then they will give back to the community by participating,” she said.
“My drive comes from the desire to be included and to have access to information. There are touch, voice and other ways to share the information. It’s about asking how and exploring different ways of communication,” she explained.

On her life at the Harvard, she said, “I have very positive experience in Harvard as I met a lot of amazing people from all over the world. Most people worked on social justice and public interest law.”

She said she had communicated with her classmates and professors through the keyboard and digital Braille. “Reading Braille is the easiest way to access to information. So, my friend and I have come up with an idea to connect the keyboard to the digital Braille display,” she added.

She also said its university and professors responsibility to meet the needs of all the students. Recalling her meeting with President Obama she said, “Last year, I went to the White House and met with President Obama. He usually speaks through his voice to communicate with the people. But to communicate with me he gracefully switched from voice to typing. That’s what inclusion is, the attitude and willingness to use whatever solution is available.”