Stakeholder Consultation on Digital Rights and Accessibility

Organized by Prayatna Nepal | Supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI)
Date: September 27, 2024
Venue: Hotel Pension Vasana, Dillibazar, Kathmandu

Main Content

Kathmandu, Nepal - On 27th September 2024, Prayatna Nepal, an organization championing the rights of women with visual impairments, hosted a Stakeholder Consultation on Digital Rights and Accessibility at Hotel Pension Vasana, Dillibazar. The consultation, supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), brought together 20 participants from key sectors, including government bodies, civil society organizations, and disability rights activists, to discuss ways to ensure digital inclusivity for persons with disabilities.

The consultation aimed to build collective awareness about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in the digital sphere and to devise strategies to widen the digital divide. This initiative seeks to ensure that Nepal's digital landscape becomes more accessible and equitable for all.

Mr. Sagar Prasai, Director of Diverse Patterns and a leading expert in digital accessibility, facilitated the session. Diverse Patterns, a professional services company, provides expertise across various sectors, supporting clients in creating impactful, inclusive organizations. Mr. Prasai guided the participants through a series of presentations and practical exercises focused on enhancing digital accessibility.

Highlights of the Consultation

• Understanding Disability and Digital Accessibility: In-depth discussions on how persons with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments, interact with digital technologies.
• Real-Life Demonstrations: Showcases of how digital accessibility impacts the day-to-day lives of persons with disabilities, illustrating the importance of accessible technologies.
• Skill Development: Interactive sessions focused on building practical skills for digital accessibility, including hands-on exercises.
• Accessible Document Creation: A workshop that provided participants with knowledge on creating accessible MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents, along with guided tutorials.
• Social Media Accessibility: Best practices for ensuring that social media platforms are inclusive for persons with disabilities, fostering wider engagement.
• Accessible Formats: An exploration of how to make PDFs, audio, and video content accessible to everyone.

Participants were actively involved throughout the consultation, sharing experiences and insights while working together to develop strategies for improving digital accessibility in Nepal.

About Prayatna Nepal

Founded in 2015 by young women with visual impairments, Prayatna Nepal is a non-profit organization committed to empowering women and girls with visual impairments in Nepal. The organization has provided support to over 600 visually impaired women, promoting their rights and self-sufficiency through various initiatives. Under the motto, "Nothing about us without us," Prayatna Nepal advocates for inclusive policies and practices across a range of sectors, including digital accessibility, education, health, and disaster risk reduction.

Prayatna Nepal offers a variety of programs, from digital accessibility training to self-defense, daily living skills, employability skills, and advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities.

This stakeholder consultation marks a crucial milestone in promoting digital accessibility in Nepal, opening doors for enhanced inclusivity and greater digital empowerment for persons with disabilities.

Author Credentials: Jalasa Sapkota is a visually impaired writer, researcher, and advocate for disability inclusion. With a background as a former Research Assistant at Diverse Patterns Limited and now as a Resource Person for the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment's (ICEVI) Gender Equality and Women's Rights Task Group, she has dedicated her career to advancing the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities. Visit Jalasa's biography for comprehensive insights into her background, expertise, and accomplishments.