SciAccess的动态

Here's my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor.studio: 2024 taught me that breaking barriers isn't about grand gestures, but persistent, strategic actions that create real change. For persons with disabilities, every small win is a revolution – and this year, we turned those wins into a movement. Key Milestones: ? Transitioned from communications assistant to communication officer at United Disabled Persons of Kenya UDPK, transforming how we communicate disability narratives ? Selected as UN Civil Societies Conference Youth Reporter, amplifying voices often left unheard ? Featured in Goethe-Institut e.V.'s 23|24 Year Book for Skio AI, proving that assistive technology can reshape accessibility ? Explored the artificial intelligence landscape in Munich, Germany by touring different #AI hubs. ? Contributed to the Persons with Disabilities National Policy 2024 memorandum, directly influencing systemic change ? Showcased Skio AI at Inclusive Africa Conference, connecting innovation with real-world impact Posts that captured my journey: "Online Gender-Based Violence Experience" Understanding intersectional challenges faced by women with disabilities "The first time I experienced online gender-based violence, I didn't recognize it for what it was." https://lnkd.in/drAJEcAJ "Africa Disability Conference: Challenging Workplace Barriers" Demanding concrete actions for disability inclusion "How are your companies actively eliminating barriers to entry in the job market for persons with disabilities?" https://lnkd.in/dCZSdQZD "Claiming Our Space" Demonstrating that self-advocacy is our most powerful tool. https://lnkd.in/d9ESxwbm "Impact Beyond Numbers" Proving that human experiences matter more than metrics. https://lnkd.in/dMi_3P_H Looking ahead to 2025: We're scaling Skio AI to create more accessible technologies, pushing policy boundaries, and ensuring that persons with disabilities aren't just included – they're centered, empowered, and leading the conversation. To every person who believes technology and advocacy can transform lives – this journey is just beginning. #DisabilityInclusion #AssistiveTechnology #SocialImpact #PolicyChange #YouthEmpowerment #LinkedInRewind #Coauthor #2024wrapped

Breaking Chains, Building Bridges: Empowering Women with Disabilities Imagine a world where a woman's potential is shackled, not by her physical limitations, but by societal prejudice. This is the harsh reality for countless women with disabilities in developing countries. It's a vicious cycle: without financial independence, education is a distant dream. And without education, financial freedom remains elusive. It's like trying to fly without wings, or sail without a compass. A Mountain of Challenges These women face a daunting uphill climb: * Cultural Stigma: They're often seen as burdens, outcasts, or even cursed. It's as if they're trapped in a dark, silent room, invisible to the world. * Economic Barriers: Limited access to education and skills training, coupled with societal discrimination, makes finding decent work as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack. * Healthcare Disparities: Poor access to healthcare, especially rehabilitation services, leaves them adrift in a sea of neglect. * Violence and Abuse: They're often targets of violence and exploitation, their vulnerability exploited like a ripe fruit. From Pity to Power: A Call for Action It's time to break these chains and build bridges to a brighter future. We need to: * Illuminate the Path: Ensure schools and colleges are accessible and offer inclusive curricula. * Level the Playing Field: Create workplaces that accommodate their needs and abilities. * Heal the Wounds: Improve access to quality healthcare, especially rehabilitation services. * Shatter Stereotypes: Promote inclusive attitudes and break down societal barriers. * Amplify Their Voices: Support them to become powerful advocates for their rights. * Sow the Seeds of Prosperity: Provide vocational training, microfinance, and entrepreneurship opportunities. * Uphold Justice: Strengthen laws to protect their rights and hold abusers accountable. By working together, we can empower these women to soar to new heights, to rewrite their destinies, and to prove that disability is not inability. Let's turn pity into power, and transform their challenges into triumphs.

For #DisabilityPrideMonth, we're looking at these resources from The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on making STEM more inclusive for people with disabilities. Check out the videos at the bottom of the article: https://ow.ly/5Ok650Sxio4 #InclusiveSTEM

???????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????????! I am excited to announce that my article, “???????????? ????????????????: ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ????” has been published in ?????? ?????????? ????????! This piece explores “?????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???? ????????????????????’?? ???????????? ??????????????????”. The main focus of the article is to highlight - despite ongoing community consultations with various Political Parties, Civil Society Organizations, Professional Entities, and other stakeholders, there is a noticeable absence of representation from OPDs (Organizations of Persons with Disabilities) in the reformation processes. It emphasizes the importance of including the voices of Persons with Disabilities in these crucial reform discussions. I am grateful to The Daily Star for providing a platform to share my thoughts and contribute to meaningful conversations. I hope this article sparks insights and engages readers in a way that adds value to the discussion. You can read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dtJ_zp-J I would love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or experiences related to this topic. Let's keep the dialogue going! #PublishedArticle #TheDailyStar #SocialImpact #???????????? ???????????????? #?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ????

It's the final day for submitting an abstract for the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc 2025 Conference "Access Unlock: Innovating for Information Equity". Is your abstract in? For more details see the Round Table's website: https://lnkd.in/guwxJNvi #RT2025 #RoundTable2025 #PrintDisAbility #Access #Information

The Forgotten Faces of Education: Amplifying the Voices of Children with Disabilities As the excitement builds for the start of a new academic year, let’s pause and reflect: are we truly creating opportunities for all children to thrive? While many families are busy preparing, countless children with disabilities remain on the periphery, facing systemic barriers to education. We need to ask ourselves: What about the children who dream of learning but are excluded from classrooms? What about the students whose unique learning styles are misinterpreted as “slowness,” leading to marginalization? What about the lack of resources and support that leaves so many feeling invisible and unheard? These are not just rhetorical questions. They are a call for action. Having navigated these challenges firsthand, I understand the profound impact of exclusion. I’ve felt the sting of being underestimated, but I've also witnessed the power of resilience, the magic of dreams, and the transformative potential of true inclusion. Education is a fundamental human right, not a privilege reserved for the few. It’s our collective responsibility to challenge the status quo and advocate for equitable systems that genuinely embrace diversity. We must move beyond simply providing access; we must create learning environments that are truly inclusive, supportive, and empowering. This means: ?? Accessible Infrastructure: Ensuring schools are physically accessible to all students. ?? Individualized Support: Providing tailored support and resources that address unique needs. ?? Trained Educators: Equipping teachers with the skills and knowledge to effectively teach students with disabilities. ?? Challenging Stigmas: Breaking down negative stereotypes and fostering a culture of acceptance. As we step into 2025, let's not just talk about inclusion; let's actively build it. Let's support organizations, advocate for policy changes, and commit to making our communities more welcoming and accessible. A child's potential should never be limited by their disability. Their potential is limitless when given opportunities to succeed. I’ll be diving deeper into this critical issue on my show, "Empowering Education and Employment," on Skills Village Radio. Join me on January 15th from 10 AM to 12 PM (SAST) to explore solutions and amplify these crucial conversations. You can tune in at https://lnkd.in/dPMVT_BP. Your voice matters! Share your experiences, ideas, and perspectives. To contribute your voice to the conversation: ?? Send ?? Whatsapp voice notes: 0739410214 ?? Email:[email protected] (to be considered for a feature on the program) Let's collectively work towards a world where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential! #InclusionMatters #DisabilityAdvocacy #EqualEducation #SkillsVillageRadio #InclusiveEducation #Accessibility #VoiceForChange #EmpoweringEducation

"Disabled people are the real experts when it comes to technology and disability" - Ashley Shew ?????? And surely, I second this statement! Wait, what? Technology? Yes. ????? I also want to emphasize that the digital divide is a disability issue. At least three key points are highlighted in the Call for Action 2 of the Youth Disability Global Summit in 2022: Make technology and assistive devices accessible, and ensure they are gender-and age-sensitive: - We commit to striving to revolutionize the design, availability, and affordability of appropriate assistive technology, including digital technologies, and to promote the adoption of universally designed products, services, and environments that are gender-and age-sensitive. ????? - We commit to ensuring the participation of youth with disabilities in all stages of this process, including design, production, testing, and making sure they reach all youth with disabilities that require them to actively contribute to all parts of society. ???????? - We actively support policies and actions which help to overcome the digital divide. ????? ???? Unfortunately, the issue of access to Assistive Technology is more prevalent among persons with disabilities in the Global South, particularly women with disabilities and other underrepresented groups, including indigenous communities. This calls for an intervention by, for, and with persons with disabilities, building solidarities from national to regional and global levels. ????

Happy Friday from the STEM Positive Disruptor 3rd of December was International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 The theme was “Amplifying the leadership of disabled people for an inclusive and sustainable future”. This brought to remembrance my conversation with Katy Deacon, CEng FIET IET Trustee & EDI Chair. She spoke about the importance of inclusive thinking and changing the landscape for those with disability in STEM. Full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/erKQz7rn Also on Spotify: @STEMPositveDisruptor – MIA Conversation with This week, Mckinsey & Company, said in an article “Accessibility: Moving beyond one-size-fits-all solutions”, … True Inclusivity is more than compliance or innovation – it’s about ensuring everyone can thrive, regardless of their unique needs. By designing workplaces that embrace diverse needs and proactively addressing barriers. So as an Engineering organisation, are Persons with disabilities represented across all areas of your business. Katy Deacon, #disabilityawarenessandInclusion, #STEM, #IET, #InclusiveThinking, #engineering, Sara Shunkwiler, Emma Collington, Elaine Hughes