ADDIS ABABA – Together Ethiopian Residents’ charity, collaborating with DATA4CHANGE A UK- based nonprofit organization, is due to launch the first digital blind spot ‘hear the blind’ which introduces digital access for visually impaired persons in Ethiopia.
Hear the blind spot.org is a signified data-driven web experience that champions the need for a more inclusive and accessible internet.
Heartheblind .spot launches with a special live performance of the story of a visually-impaired young woman in Ethiopia called Desta’s at the sixth Annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica), which will be hosted in Addi s Ababa for the first time 23-26 September, 2019.
Hear the Blind Spot was created in collaboration with DATA4CHANGE, a UK-based nonprofit that connects civil society organizations with experts in data, design, tech and journalism to tackle social and political challenges. Heartheblind.spot came about during an event run by DATA 4 CHANGE in Nairobi in 2019, when representatives from Together, were invited to work with six creative from Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Tanzania and the UK. In just five days, the team came up with the campaign concept and developed the first Prototype of Desta’s story.
During the performance, sighted attendees will be invited to wear eye masks to experience the story in the same way as someone with a severe visual impairment. Creating an experience that sighted and visually impaired people can share alike is crucial to the campaign, which hopes to build empathy and greater awareness about the digital exclusion of visually impaired people.
Stina Backer, Director at DATA4CHANGE says DATA4CHANGE’s mission is to humanize data and make data more accessible, which is why we were so excited to collaborate with Together. Heartheblind Spot proves that you don’t have to visualize data to make sense of it, to be moved by it, or for it to inspire action.
“The WHO estimates that 1.3 billion people globally live with some form of distance or near vision impairment. In a world where data has so much impact on our lives, it is about time That the tech, data and design industries make sure that data consumption and literacy is not Just the privilege of those lucky enough to be sighted,” she added
Berhanu Belay, Executive Director at Together says Together’s mission is to empower persons with visual impairment in Ethiopia so that they can reach their full potential and become active and productive members of society.
“In the move towards creating a digitally inclusive society, the currently ongoing project, Heartheblind Spot /HTBS, will boost our efforts by enabling persons with visual impairment and the sighted share their experiences online.”
“Together hope that many more live performances of ‘Hear the Blind Spot’ can take place at schools and in communities across the country. Anyone who wants to put on a performance using the free performance packs available in English, Amharic and Braille,” he added
The Ethiopian Herald Sept 22/2019
BY FASICA BERHANE
