Disclaimer:
Please be aware that the content herein has not been peer reviewed. It consists of personal reflections, insights, and learnings of the contributor(s). It may not be exhaustive, nor does it aim to be authoritative knowledge.
Title
Please provide a name for your action learning plan.
Accessible, Inclusive, and Empowering: Microsoft Office Suite for the Visually Impaired
Challenge statement
Challenge type: If you are working on multiple challenges, please indicate if this is your "big bet" or "exploratory" challenge.
Please note: we ask you to only submit a maximum of 3 challenges - 1x Big Bet, 2x Exploratory. Each challenge must be submitted individually.
BIG BET
Challenge statement: What is your challenge? (Please answer in specific terms: "Our challenge is that...”.)
The challenge is to enhance the digital skills of visually impaired youth to increase their employability, as digital literacy has become increasingly important in various industries. Due to differences in learning methods, it is challenging for them to access digital skill courses, which makes it crucial to design and deliver advanced computer skills training using screen reading software.
Background: What is the history of your challenge? What is causing or driving it? Who is involved? How does the current situation look like? What undesired effects does it produce?
UNDP Thailand (Social Inclusion Team and Accelerator Lab) is addressing the limited employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Thailand, especially those with visual impairment. The lack of access to education and training opportunities and the limited availability of inclusive training cause the challenge. UNDP is partnering with the Citi Foundation to enhance the digital skills of youth with visual impairment to increase their employability.
Quantitative evidence: What (official) data sources do you have on this challenge that better exemplifies the importance and urgency of this frontier challenge? You can add text, a link, or a picture.
There are 855,816 persons with disabilities (PwDs) of working age (15-59 years old) in Thailand. Out of this total, 36.29% (310,586) are employed, 12.02% (102,889) can work but are not employed, 7.08% (60,628) cannot work due to severe disabilities, and 50.45% (431,796) did not provide or disclose information on their employment status. Among those employed, 53.69% work in agriculture, 23.49% in general labor, 6.36% are self-employed or own a business, 5.92% are employed by private companies, 1.26% work in government or state enterprises, and 0.21% work in other occupations.
Source: https://dep.go.th/images/uploads/files/situation-Dec65.pdf
Qualitative evidence: What weak signals have you recently spotted that characterizes its urgency? Please provide qualitative information that better exemplifies the importance and urgency of this frontier challenge. You can add text, a link, or a picture.
The limited access to education and training opportunities for persons with disabilities (PwDs) is a significant challenge that affects their opportunities for employment and competitiveness in the job market. This is especially true for youth with visual impairments, who face additional challenges in acquiring digital skills necessary for modern workplaces. As the world becomes increasingly digital, digital literacy and skills have become a requirement for employment, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized the importance of remote work and online learning. Therefore, the urgent need to enhance digital skills training for youth with visual impairments is crucial to promote their employability and inclusion in the job market. UNDP Thailand's efforts to address this issue with the financial support of the Citi Foundation are a critical step towards reducing the employment gap for PwDs in Thailand.
Value proposition: What added value or unique value proposition is your Accelerator Lab bringing to solving this challenge? Why is it your Lab that needs to work on this challenge and not other actors within UNDP, other stakeholders in the country respectively? Why is it worth investing resources to this challenge?
The UNDP Thailand Accelerator Lab brings innovation and experimentation to the challenge of enhancing digital skills training for youth with visual impairments. This unique approach, coupled with collaboration with the UNDP Disability Inclusion Team, makes the Accelerator Lab well-suited to address this urgent need for social inclusion. Investing in this challenge is critical to reducing the employment gap for persons with disabilities in Thailand.
Short “tweet” summary: We would like to tweet what you are working on, can you summarize your challenge in a maximum of 280 characters?
UNDP Thailand's Accelerator Lab is partnering with the Disability Inclusion Team to enhance digital skills training for youth with visual impairments. Our innovative approach and collaboration aim to reduce the employment gap for persons with disabilities, promoting social inclusion and accessibility. #DigitalSkills #Inclusion #Accessibility #SocialImpact
Partners
Who are your top 5 partners for this challenge? Please submit from MOST to LEAST important and state Name, Sector and a brief description of the (intended) collaboration.
Please state the name of the Parter:
Thailand Association of the Blind
What sector does our partner belong to?
Civil Society
Please provide a brief description of the collaboration.
Partnering with the Thai Association of the Blind (TAB) can enhance the effectiveness of UNDP Thailand's project in enhancing digital skills training for youth with visual impairments. TAB's expertise and network can contribute to developing an inclusive and accessible curriculum while promoting awareness and advocacy for persons with disabilities in Thailand. This collaboration can work towards a more inclusive society that empowers persons with disabilities.
Is this a new and unusual partner for UNDP?
No
Learning questions
Learning question: What is your learning question for this challenge? What do you need to know or understand to work on your challenge statement?
What are the current digital skills training programs available for youth with visual impairments in Thailand?
What are the specific challenges faced by persons with visual impairments in acquiring digital skills, and how can these be addressed in the design of the training curriculum?
How can we ensure that the training curriculum is inclusive and accessible for all participants, including those with varying degrees of visual impairments?
What are the best practices for evaluating the effectiveness of digital skills training for persons with disabilities, and how can we apply these in our project?
What opportunities exist for partnerships and collaboration with organizations like the Thai Association of the Blind to enhance the impact of the project?
To what stage(s) in the learning cycle does your learning question relate?
Sense, Explore, Test
Usage of methods: Relating to your choice above, how will you use your methods & tools for this learning question? What value do these add in answering your learning question?
UNDP Thailand will use innovation methods such as sensemaking, proof of concept, and pilots to address the learning questions related to enhancing digital skills training for youth with visual impairments. Sensemaking will help us better understand the needs and challenges faced by persons with visual impairments in acquiring digital skills, and inform the development of an inclusive and accessible training curriculum. Proof of concept and pilots will allow us to test the effectiveness of the curriculum in a controlled environment before scaling it up. These methods and tools add value by allowing us to iterate and refine our approach based on feedback and results, ultimately leading to a more effective and impactful project.
Existing data gaps: Relating to your choice above, what existing gaps in data or information do these new sources of data addressing? What value do these add in answering your learning question?
In the context of utilizing surveys and evaluations to gather feedback from participants, there may be existing data gaps related to the effectiveness of current digital skills training programs for youth with visual impairments. This data can provide valuable insights into the specific challenges faced by persons with visual impairments in accessing and utilizing digital skills training programs, as well as the impact of such training on their employability and career prospects. Addressing these data gaps can inform the development of a more inclusive and effective digital skills training curriculum, ultimately leading to better outcomes for persons with visual impairments in Thailand.
Closing
Early leads to grow: Think about the possible grow phase for this challenge - who might benefit from your work on this challenge or who might be the champions in your country that you should inform or collaborate with early on to help you grow this challenge?
The possible growth phase for this challenge includes reaching a wider audience of persons with visual impairments across Thailand and potentially expanding the project to include other types of disabilities. To achieve this, collaboration with disability rights organizations and advocacy groups can help promote the project and reach potential beneficiaries. Additionally, partnering with government agencies responsible for disability services and employment can help integrate the project into broader disability inclusion efforts. Champions for this project may include disability rights activists, disability-led organizations, and employers committed to disability inclusion. Early collaboration with these stakeholders can help build momentum and support for the project, leading to broader impact and sustainability.
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Thank you!
4Quality education
8Decent work and economic growth
9Industry, innovation and infrastructure
10Reduced innequalities
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