ADA Live! Episode 15: Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology

For the past 22 years, the annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The theme of this year's observance is “Sustainable Development: The promise of technology”

The emergence of information and communications technologies (ICTs) have dramatically increased connectivity between people and their access to information, and further raised living standards. ICTs have changed the way people live, work and play. However, not all people benefit from the advances of technology and the higher standards of living. This is mainly because not all people have access to new technologies.

Today, there are over 1 billion people living in the world with some form of disability. Persons with disabilities not only face physical barriers but also social, economic and attitudinal barriers. In spite of being the world’s largest minority group, persons with disabilities and the issue of disability has remained largely invisible in the mainstream development frameworks and its processes.