ICT Barriers for People with Disability in Namibia: Evidence from the 2011 Namibia Population and Housing Census
Main Article Content
Keywords
disability, information, communication and technology access, Namibia
Abstract
Computer technology and the Internet have a tremendous potential to increase the independence of people with disabilities. We investigated the extent to which people with disabilities access information communication technologies (ICT) (focusing on access to computers, internet and mobile phone) and how their ICT access compares with the ICT access of the rest of the Namibian population. More specifically, we investigated factors that affect people with disabilities ICT access in Namibia. The study relied on the 2011 Namibia Population and Housing Census as the main data source for analysis. The results showed people with disabilities are disadvantaged in ICT access. The study reveals that education level, work status, age and place of residence are important factors associated with ICT access among people with disabilities. Results also show that there is less disparity between employed and unemployed individuals with disabilities than without disabilities. Additionally, the results show that those classified as “blind”, “autistic”, “hearing difficulties” and “mental disabled” fair worse than people with other disabilities in computer, internet and/or cell phone access. There is a need to consider unique issues affecting ICT access for people living with disabilities to achieve Namibia’s goal of equitable access for all as envisioned in its Vision 2030.
References
Cheatham L. (2012). Effects of internet use on well-being among adults with physical disabilities: A review. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 7(3), 181–188.
Dobransky, K. & Hargittai, E. (2006). The disability divide in internet access and use. Information, Communication and Society, 9, 313-34.
Eide, A., & B. Ingstad (2013) Disability and poverty – Reflections on research experiences in Africa and beyond. African Journal of Disability, 2, 1-7.
Facer, K. & Furlong, R. (2001). Beyond the myth of the ‘cyberkid’: Young people at the margins of the information revolution. Journal of Youth Studies, 4, 451-469.
Fox, S. (2011). Americans living with disability and their technology profile. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved 14 March, 2014, from
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Disability.aspx
Kent, N. & Facer, K. (2004). Different worlds? A comparison of young people’s home and school ICT use. Journal of Computer-Assisted Learning, 20, 440-55.
Furuholt, B., & Kristiansen, S. (2007). A rural – Urban digital divide? Regional aspects of Internet use in Tanzania. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC), 3, 11 – 15.
Gilbert, M. R., Masucci, M. M., Homoko, C. & Bove, A. A. (2008). Theorizing the digital divide: Information and communication technology use and frameworks among poor women using a telemedicine system. Geoforum, 39, 912-925.
Graham, M. (2011) Time machines and virtual portals: The spatialities of the digital divide. Progress in Development Studies, 11, 211–227.
Goggin, G. & Newell, C. (2003). Digital disability. United Kingdom: Rowan & Littlefield
Internet World Stats. (2012). Internet usage statistics. The internet big picture world internet users and population stats. Retrieved 14 March, 2012, from http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
Kaye, H. S. (2000). Computer and internet use among people with disabilities. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
Kvasny, L. & Keil, M. (2006). The challenges of redressing the digital divide: A tale of two US cities. Information Systems Journal. 16, 23–53.
Jones, A. (2004). A review of the research literature on barriers to the uptake of ICT by teachers. UK: Becta.
Lopez, V. (2009). Are people with disabilities losing the ICT revolution? Some evidence on European countries. Open Social Science Journal, 2, 78-81.
Mosse, E.L. & Byrne, E. (2005). The role of identity in health information systems development: A case analysis from Mozambique. Information Technology for Development, 11, 227-243.
National Statistical Agency (2012). The Namibia population and housing census. NSA, Windhoek.
Palmer, M. (2012). Disability and poverty: A conceptual review. Journal of Disability Policy Studies 21, 210–218.
Rao, S. (2005). Bridging digital divide: Efforts in India Telematics and Informatics, 22, 361-375.
Samant, D., Matter, R., & Harniss, M. (2013). Realizing the potential of accessible ICTs in developing countries. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 8, 11–20.
UN Enable. (2006). Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Available at:
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default. asp?navid=13&pid=150. Accessed 31-07-2013.
Van Rooy, G., Amadhila, E., Mufune, P., Swartz, L., Mannan, H., & MacLachlan, M. (2012). Perceived barriers to accessing health services among people with disabilities in rural Northern Namibia. Disability & Society, 27, 761-775.
Vicente, M.R. & Lopez, A.J. (2010). A multidimensional analysis of the disability digital divide: Some evidence for internet use. The Information Society: An International Journal 26, pp. 48–64.
Watling, S. (2011) Digital exclusion: Coming out from behind closed doors. Disability and Society, 26, 491-495.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
RDS Journal is an open-access journal, create a free account to read full articles and to submit a proposal. For visual arts and multimedia, submission will be considered evidence that you are offering RDS the right to display your work without penalty, compensation or royalties.
Nelago Indongo, Director, Multi-Disciplinary Research Center, University of Namibia
Nelago Indongo, PhD is the Director of the multi-disciplinary research center of the University of Namibia. Her major interest is in population and demographic issues.
Pempelani Mufune, Professor of Sociology, University of Namibia
Pempelani Mufune, PhD is a Professor of sociology at the University of Namibia. He has an interest in work and employment issues.