Australia FIT/IP in Action for Accessibility: Bangladesh

30 juillet 2018

Our series on Australia Funds-In-Trust for Intellectual Property (Australia FIT/IP) in action for accessibility focuses on the end beneficiaries of our funding that supports accessibility initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region.

Tulli

Tulli is 17 years old and from Bangladesh. She is in grade 12 at Government City College. She received all of her textbooks in DAISY Audio format in Bangla (Bengali) through Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) – a non-profit, social development organization active in Bangladesh. The production of these accessible textbooks was funded by Australia FIT/IP.

Tulli lost her sight at 13 years old and her her two brothers are also blind. She was previously able to study only because family members as well as her teacher read to her.

I want to study law and become a lawyer. But my path is not easy if textbooks are not available.

Photo of Tulli listening to her mobile device — Tulli listening to her mobile device. (Photo: WIPO)

YPSA provided Tulli with a mobile phone, which she uses to help her studies as well as in everyday life.

Now I am able to use accessible dictionary apps for my study and smart map apps for my mobility. When I turn 18, I will be able to access social media such as Facebook. I am preparing myself to go to university thanks to this smart technology.

Hasan

Hasan is a 23 year old Masters’ student in Political Science at the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. He’d like to become a teacher at a government college in the future.

When Hasan entered higher education in 2010, he says that not a single page was available in an accessible format. Now he receives ample accessible materials from the ABC Global Book Service and YPSA.

Before the ABC, I could read only specific class notes recorded by friends and my teachers. They had to manually type the braille. That was a lot of extra work.

Photo of Hasan studying using electronic materials from the ABC Global Book Service — Hasan studying using electronic materials from the ABC Global Book Service. (Photo: WIPO)

Through YSPA Hasan also received an Android device and training on how to use it as well as on various accessible apps. Not only did the device increase the amount of material he was able to read, it has also greatly improved his chances on the job market.

Having completed my Master’s, this Android device is very helpful in searching for a job. I also use it to prepare for job interviews.

All of this was made possible thanks to Australia FIT/IP helping to fund both the production of accessible study materials and the Android device.