NEW: ‘Leveraging artificial intelligence can drive disability inclusion’

Online Reporter

IN an era where technology is rapidly advancing, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) stands as a beacon of hope for enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The sentiments were expressed by stakeholders who attended an indaba on Access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by PWDs.

AI is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.

Specific applications of AI include expert systems, natural language processing, speech recognition, and machine vision.

President of the National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe (NCDPZ) Senator Anna Shiri said technology had the potential to break the barriers to information for PWDs.

“As Parliamentarians, organisations and other stakeholders for PWDs, we need to reaffirm our commitment to creating an inclusive digital landscape by harnessing the power of technology.

“We can bridge the gaps that have traditionally hindered PWDs from participating in society. With the advent of AI, it is clear that depending on a human assistant can be the thing of the past,” said Senator Shiri.

Mr Perfect Mashapa, a research consultant for the Signs of Hope Trust (an organisation that advocates for the rights of PWDs), said harnessing AI’s potential required investment in ICTs in general.

“We need to make efforts to engage the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services to push for the allocation of resources that benefit PWDs,” he said.

“We also need to look into how the money allocated to PWDs is distributed and administered to ensure prioritisation of ICT gadgets for PWDs.”

Said Signs of Hope Trust director Ms Samantha Sibanda: “Imagine living a life where someone knows who you are calling, what you are saying to them, and why you are doing so.

“Having a life with no privacy at all is more like living a compromised life where freedom as a right will not be enjoyed.”

Generative AI-based approaches can be used to create digital accessibility solutions, associated with speech-to-text or image-to-speech conversion.

It may also fuel accessible design and interfaces involving adaptive texts, fonts, and colors that benefit reading, visual, or cognitive impairments.

Similar algorithms can be used to create libraries, knowledge and education platforms that may serve the purpose of assistive accommodation, social protection and micro-learning, equality training and policing.

Hwange Central constituency legislator Mr Daniel Molokele suggested the establishment of a Commission that focuses on disability issues.

“I suggest the establishment of the Disability Commission, which will be at par with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), so that when budget allocations are being done, they will be taken seriously,” he said.