People with disabilities consider ICTs essential to overcome their limitations

Presentation of the study "ICT and Dependency" with the participation of Minister Clos

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The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Joan Clos, together with the Secretary of State for Social Services, Families and Disability, Amparo Valcarce, the CEO of Vodafone Spain, Francisco Román, and the general directors of Red.es and the foundation VodafoneSebastián Muriel and José Luis Ripoll, respectively, the report "ICT and Dependency. Opinion Study", prepared by red.es and the foundation Vodafone Based on the quantitative and qualitative conclusions of a group of experts, both technical and belonging to vulnerable groups from various public and private organizations.

The report's conclusions aimed to reflect the reality of several vulnerable groups, studying their needs, the compensation systems they use, and the role of Information and Communication Technologies. information and Communications in their daily lives.

Thus, and given that nearly 4 million people in Spain have some disability, a quantitative analysis has been carried out, which has had the collaboration of people belonging to those groups in which the degree of dependency is greater: visual, hearing and physical-motor disabled, elderly people and mentally ill.

On the other hand, a group of experts, whose field of action revolves around the care of the groups analyzed, or the role of Technology de information and Communications in the provision of services to dependent persons, has collaborated in the qualitative study, in order to obtain complete results that open new possibilities for integration and participation of all citizens.

The vast majority of dependent individuals who participated in the study expressed a desire to participate as much as possible in everyday life activities. In other words, they seek active integration into society through all available means. In this regard, all groups of dependent individuals (blind, hard of hearing, those with physical or motor disabilities, those with chronic and mental illnesses, the elderly, and victims of gender-based violence) believe that technical and technological resources will be fundamental in the future in supporting them to overcome their limitations.

 

Usefulness of ICTs among dependent groups                                                                         

According to data from the report by the red.es Observatory and the foundation VodafoneThe usefulness of ICTs is more deeply rooted among groups whose lives have already changed thanks to technology (especially deaf people), based on the observation of constant technological developments that have allowed them to verify its usefulness.

Of the groups considered in this study, the deaf community has the highest adoption rates of mobile phones (98,4%) and the internet (69,8%), followed by the physically disabled community (89,4% and 66,8%) and the blind community (91,6% and 46,2%). Regarding the elderly, the study data reveals that they have adopted these technologies to a lesser extent (24,7% and 19,0%).

Another aspect highlighted by the study concerns the lack of information available to ensure that technology is integrated into the range of support opportunities and resources. There is a certain lack of awareness regarding the potential of ICTs, especially among groups with traditionally less recognized vulnerabilities (older adults, people with chronic illnesses, or people with intellectual disabilities).

The study highlights the need for accessibility to the technology itself, meaning that the tools must be available to potential users. These technologies must also improve usability through a design that is accessible to everyone.

One of the aspects confirmed by the study of the red.es Observatory and the Vodafone Foundation When any of the ICT applications is offered, recommended and made available to its potential beneficiaries, the advantages are immediately appreciated, the opportunity for use becomes widespread, the demand extends spontaneously, adapting to the conditions of the vulnerable group and consolidating an opportunity of benefit for the dependent person.

 

Promoting the development of ICT in these groups

One of the study's conclusions is the need to promote the development of ICTs among vulnerable groups and address the social trend that highlights the importance of technical and technological assistance as a form of compensation. Policies to promote this development should focus on solutions and advancements toward greater technical accessibility of ICTs for people with disabilities. In other words, they should support universal design.

Another basic action of these policies when it comes to accessing ICTs and considering a greater reach is the coordination and awareness of all the agents involved.

Economic accessibility and training are presented as key development principles in any policy for implementing ICTs among vulnerable groups.

The study also highlights the need for more pragmatic regulations that encourage the development and application of accessibility criteria.

 

Actions of the Ministry of Industry in this area

The Avanza Plan of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade has a specific line of action to integrate all citizens into the Society de The Information. Se This refers to Avanza Ciudadanía, which has a total budget of 376 million euros in 2007. This amount represents an 80% increase compared to the amount allocated to the same line in 2006.

This program specifically aims to ensure that all people with special needs are included in the Society de information through actions adapted to each of the groups that make up the digital divide (older people, people with disabilities or people with difficulty integrating into society).

Within the framework of Avanza Ciudadanía, the call for proposals for grants for actions aimed at the inclusion of people with disabilities and older people in the Society de information has granted subsidies amounting to 5 million euros to non-profit entities.

The purpose of this call for applications is to facilitate access for people with disabilities and older people to the Society de information, promoting their incorporation into the use of new technologies as an ideal means to achieve their social integration, avoid digital exclusion and improve their quality of life.