The impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on the lives of disabilities: a case in Bangladesh

Introduction

Disability should not be an impediment to success. Around 785 million, or between 15% and 19%, of the world population of 15 years and older are people with disabilities (PWDs), as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2011. Recently, the population of PWDs has increased, which is 10% higher than the date from the 1970s, and the report suggests that disabilities such as blindness should not be ignored [1]. The growing aging population is the main reason for the increase in the number of PWDs. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) estimated around 650 million PWDs, which is around 10% of the world’s population [2]. Vicente and López [3] found that around 18% of the world’s population suffer from various kinds of disabilities.

The WHO [4] estimated that the number of visually impaired (VI) people in the world is 285 million; among them, 39 million people are blind, and 246 million people have low vision. They also estimated that 65% of the VI people are 50 years and above, whereas 82% of them are blind. This percentage is likely to increase in the forthcoming years because of various reasons, such as negative environmental change and increase in the aging population [3]. Disability is a common finding in surveys of people of all ages in both developing and developed countries due to increasing incidence of various accidents and health issues, e.g. childhood blindness in 30%–72% of the cases in many developing countries is preventable [5].

As the population of PWDs is increasing, numerous studies have been carried out by the academicians and various organizations on how to make efficient policies for PWDs and to find practical solutions to the problems of PWDs, which include how the lives of PWDs can be uplifted from various perspectives, such as health, educational, political, economic, cultural, and other issues. At the same time, recent UNESCO Global report [6] indicates that people with disabilities face a wide range of barriers, including access to information, education, and a lack of job opportunities. Recently, a study showed that technologies have a positive influence in the lives of PWDs from various perspectives [7]. Domingo [8] refers that the information and communication technology (ICT) can offer PWDs the assistance and support they need to achieve a good quality life, and allows them to participate in the social and economic lives. Şimşek, Altun, and Ateş [9] describe:

“Information & Communication Technology (ICT) is the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware”.

The significance of introducing and using ICT to enable PWDs to avail all human rights and elementary freedoms is recognized [10]. PWDs, in general, face barriers in accessing ICT, such as using the Internet and mobile phones [11], [12]. In many studies, it has been revealed that ICT not only reduces barriers in accessing information but also creates new barriers in a few situations, e.g. when PWDs face difficulties in using the ever-changing technology [13], [14] to solve their problems in converting, storing, protecting, processing, and transmitting necessary information [9].

In developed countries, PWDs receive many facilities when their disability is caused by various types of accidents. However, such facilities are yet to reach millions of PWDs in Bangladesh due to lack of resources. It is estimated that PWDs represent around 10% of the world’s population, whereas 70%–80% of them live in developing countries [15]. In Bangladesh, around 13 million people are physically disabled; and among them, about three million are children [16], and this number is increasing every year. Thus, this unfortunate fact reveals not only a major health issue of the country but also an important reason for poverty and underdevelopment.

In the scenarios stated above, ICT can be considered as an important tool to ensure socio-economic development through empowering PWDs [9], as ICT helps them to achieve different skills to become more competent to cope with their barriers in daily life [17]. Most of the developed countries have plans and policies to include PWDs into the process of mainstream development using ICT. Therefore, the use of ICT by PWDs should be increased in developing countries and also ensure their participation in mainstream development.

The objective of this study is to identify the key factors that have impacts on the adoption of ICT by the PWDs in Bangladesh. This study also attempts to find out how ICT brings changes in society when PWDs start to participate in all spheres of lives.

Literature review

The application of ICTs for PWDs is comparatively short in history, especially in developing countries. It started from the mid-nineties in developed countries, where its application quickly spreads through various ways for social developments [18]. An increasing number of researchers started developing theories and applications to deliver various tools and techniques using ICT to ease the lives of PWDs [19], [20], [21].

It is found that PWDs interact with ICT-enabled tools in different manners and they also face various barriers in accessing these. Therefore, it is important to analyze their particular aspects and patterns in order to understand which access barriers have more impact in each case. Usually, successful accessibility to the technology is assessed based on the criteria of the information technology accessibility guidelines [22].

Disabilities are commonly reported in both the developing and developed countries due to an increasing amount of causes [23]. The definition of disability has changed and developed dramatically in the last two decades. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defined “Disability” as a physical impairment that limits the daily activities of any individual person substantially [2]. According to the WHO [24], considering the context of health experience, a person is considered to be disabled when he faces any constraint (caused by any physical or mental impairment) in his ability to perform any activity in a manner which is considered to be normal for a person. However, recently the WHO [25] has referred that impairment is a problem in body function or body structure; and a limitation in activity is the difficulty in executing a task faced by a person, while facing restriction to involve in a life situation is defined as participation restriction. People with disabilities have been defined by the United Nations (UN) Convention as follows:

Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others [26].

A study [27] classified all types of disabilities mainly into three categories. These are: “Impairment”, “Disability”, and “Handicap”. Under these three main categories, “Impairment” is classified as psychological, generalized, and sensory, while the “Disabilities” are classified as behavioral, body disposition, situational and particular, and the third one is divided by physical independence, mobility and integration, and economic self-sufficient handicaps.

The use of ICT can facilitate and improve the functions of PWDs in their daily lives at a significant rate [28], as ICT plays a useful and impactful role in the dispensation of equal opportunities for PWDs [29]. ICT-enabled tools facilitate and expedite access to information by VI people, such as screen reading systems optimized for PWDs, screens with six-point keyboard, reading machines that can translate printed documents, books, and newspapers into audio, and mobile audio assistance in transports to improve their orientation and mobility [30], [31], [32].

Technology, such as computer simulation and virtual reality, can provide a responsive workplace for those who have motion disabilities [33]. Besides, teaching and learning programs can provide a bridge between disabilities and technology through imparting necessary knowledge, skills, and motivation [34]. However, such access to technology is limited in many countries, especially in developing country like Bangladesh [35].

Bangladesh is a developing country in South Asia, where approximately 154 million people reside [36]. It is comparatively an underdeveloped and technologically backward country which has a shortage of health workers with adequate qualification and skills due to an unequal distribution in every government and non-government sector [37]. It is a country where poverty is prevalent; nearly half of the country’s populace lives below the poverty line [38]. The problems such as provision of adequate health service, education, social security service, and employment are seen regularly, besides the incidence of frequent natural disasters, particularly flood and cyclone. Various studies indicate that approximately 10% of the country’s populace (around 16 million people) suffers from disabilities of any type, where 85% of them are children who are the most vulnerable [39].

Disability and poverty are interrelated, and they reinforce each other. In Bangladesh, most of the PWDs are poor and are vulnerable and subjected to sufferings. PWDs are the most neglected individuals in the country. Most of them are isolated from the mainstream society and often underprivileged due to lack of access to healthcare services, housing, education, employment, and transportation. However, by using ICT, PWDs are able to make themselves independent in the society [9]. Any widespread discrimination against them and their exclusion from mainstream society can lead to economic downside and untoward waste of their creative capabilities. ICT can help them emerge as mainstream members of the society [40].

Nowadays, rapid changes in the global environment due to the evolution of technology have become an effective reason for the socio-economic development at individual, community, national, and global levels. However, the lack of access to ICT tools causes a digital divide for PWDs, and designing ICT-enabled tools without considering PWDs will be an act of discrimination against them [41]. Today they are left behind considering the availability of ICT tools to them. However, this can be minimized by taking collective initiatives at policy, planning, and research levels to design a system where the PWDs will avail ICT tools easily to have equal opportunities to get access to information.

Methodology

This study has been conducted to identify the impacts of the use of ICT on the PWDs of Bangladesh. This research paper is organized into the following sections: First section provides an overall understanding of the impact of ICT on PWDs through case studies across the world. Then the second section demonstrates the disability issues in Bangladesh, and the last section shows the impact of ICT on the PWDs in Bangladesh. In this paper, the research method has followed the quantitative approach which includes data sources, sample design, determination of sample size, questionnaire design, testing the reliability of the questionnaire, and data analysis.

Findings

This brief demographic report (Table 3) provides information about samples’ demographic condition where the majority of the respondents are males (57%) and rest of the respondents (43%) are females. Younger PWDs are more engaged in ICT-related activities. Data indicate that PWDs with an average age of 25 years are more aware of ICT than the older ones. The economic conditions of the PWDs are not at satisfactory level, as the average income level of PWDs is approximately 976 USD per month, compared to the overall per capita income (USD 1466) of Bangladesh. Among the PWDs in the sample, unmarried males (68%) are higher in number than the married females. Data show that PWDs’ educational qualifications are not at satisfactory level. Most of the PWDs (36%) completed junior certificate, whereas only 3% possess graduate degrees.

For testing hypothesis, consider:

• Null hypothesis: All variables are not correlated with each other.

• Alternative hypothesis: All variables are correlated with each other.

Bartlett’s tests of sphericity were used to test the null hypotheses to find if the variables in the study are correlated or not. In other words, the null hypothesis states that the population correlation matrix is an identity matrix. In an identity matrix, all the diagonal terms are 1 and all the off-diagonal terms are 0. The test statistic for sphericity is based on a chi-square transformation of the determinant of the correlation matrix. A large value of the test statistic will favor the rejection of the null hypotheses. If this hypothesis cannot be rejected, the appropriateness of the factors will be questioned. Another useful statistic is the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy. This index compares the magnitudes of the observed correlation coefficients with the magnitudes of the partial correlation coefficients (Table 4). Small values (below 0.5) of the KMO statistic indicate that the correlations between pairs of variables cannot be explained by other variables and that factor analysis may not be appropriate.

Consequently, from Table 4, it is apparent that factor analysis is appropriate. Here, the KMO value is 0.746, which is between 0.5 and 1.0, and the approximate χ² statistic is 2577.648 with 253 degrees of freedom, which is significant at the 0.05 level. Hence, the null hypotheses can be rejected, and we can accept the alternative hypotheses, i.e. all the variables are correlated with each other. To analyze the selected variables ranging from V1 to V23, we have done factor analysis for data reduction. This analysis identifies and reveals the most important factors that contribute to the development of PWDs.

Results also show that there are seven impact factors of the use of information technology on the disabilities. From these (Table 5), only seven factors have been extracted, as cumulative percentage is >62% at the very next cell, and the eigenvalue is >1.0 (it is recommended that factors with eigenvalues >1.0 should be retained), which indicates the adequacy of the analysis using derived factors.

The extracted seven factors can be interpreted in terms of the variables that load high coefficients. From the rotated component matrix (Table 5), factor 1 has high coefficients for sufficient ongoing supports (0.770), able to work anywhere (0.706), facilities of distance learning (0.699), and mobile video communications (0.661). Thus, factor 1 can be entitled as “entire insistence to ICT”. Factor 2 has high coefficients for feedback on using the website (0.791), completely migrated to using the website (0.646), reduced on daily working costs (0.620), and e-communicate with other staff (0.570). Hence, this can be tagged as “pleasant cost for disabilities contract”. Factor 3 has a high coefficient for requirements for website implementation (0.861), benefits of the website (0.716), and collaborative approach (0.703). Thus, this factor can be said as “web-based interaction”. Factor 4 has high coefficients for capability to train others (0.736), access to jobs (0.688), contribute to family income (0.561), and available training (0.512). So, this factor may be labeled as “economic betterment”. Finally, factor 5 has very high coefficients for awareness of using ICT (0.909) and affordable access to ICT (0.842). Therefore, this factor can be named “strategic plan for disabilities development”. Again factor 5 has a coefficient for upgrading living standard (0.755), self-dependence (0.687), and inclusion in mainstream development (0.535). Therefore, this factor can be introduced “life like without disabilities”. And at last, factor 7 has a coefficient for focus on e-activities (0.776) and available ICT infrastructure (0.628). This can be named “life with web”.

Structural equation modelling

Table 6 indicates that when access to ICT increases by 1 step then the job access increases up to 22% and also job access increases by 1 step, contribution to family income increases. According to this, the disabilities will give more concentration on training. Most of the p-values are significant which indicates that the probability of getting a critical ratio as large as 3.917 in absolute value is <0.001. In other words, the regression weight for training in the prediction of access to jobs is significantly different from 0 at the 0.001 level (two-tailed). Estimate of standardized regression weight, when access to ICT increases by a standard deviation of 1, access to jobs increases by a standard deviation of 0.2. However, the probability of getting a critical ratio as large as 3.917 in absolute value is <0.001. In other words, the regression weight for training in the prediction of access to jobs is significantly different from 0 at the 0.001 level (two-tailed). When training increases by a standard deviation of 1, access to jobs increases by a standard deviation of 0.207. The probability of getting a critical ratio as large as 1.032 in absolute value is 0.302. In other words, the regression weight for infrastructure in the prediction of contribution to family is not significantly different from 0 at the 0.05 level (two-tailed). When infrastructure increases by a standard deviation of 1, contribution to family decreases by a standard deviation of 0.052.

Table 6:

Path coefficient.

Regression weights			Estimate	S.E.	C.R.	p-Value	Standardized regression weights
							Estimate
Access_job	<---	Access_ICT	0.223	0.074	3.010	0.003	0.200
Access_job	<---	Training	0.227	0.058	3.917	a	0.207
Access_job	<---	Awareness	−0.010	0.061	−0.158	0.875	−0.010
Contri_to_family	<---	Access_ICT	0.072	0.054	1.338	0.181	0.071
Contri_to_family	<---	Training	0.207	0.054	3.867	a	0.207
Contri_to_family	<---	Infrastructure	−0.054	0.052	−1.032	0.302	−0.052
Contri_to_family	<---	Access_job	0.156	0.048	3.255	0.001	0.171

^ap<0.0001.

Easy access to ICT shows that ICT infrastructure and training availability is responsible for the 11% contribution to the family income. An individual’s ICT access and training are 21% responsible; however, there is a reverse relation between infrastructure and family income. However, ICT access is 20% positively related to getting a job and also training of ICT gives a positive indication of getting a job, whereas only awareness of ICT does not give significant positivity of getting a job.

From Figure 1, it is clear that Cronbach’s alpha score for the studied variables is high. Distance learning process gives a very positive indication in the lives of PWDs. Ongoing support in this regard is very essential, such as using video communications, so that the VI people may become able to work anywhere when they need (Figure 2) support in learning the process. Factor 1 is positively related to factor 2 and indicates that if components of factor 1 are imposed on the lives of PWDs then cost of daily activities is likely to be reduced (Figure 1). Awareness of ICT should increase among the disabled people; however, it has to ensure proper access to ICT. Training or knowledge of ICT and access to jobs lies on the same factor which indicates that proper training may develop job accessibility. Electronic collaboration including e-activities and e-communication increases self-independency of PWDs. If proper ICT training is provided, then it positively affects to getting a job which indicates increasing family income (Figure 3); thus, only awareness of ICT may not help to get a job.

Figure 1:

Overall relation among the factors.

Figure 2:

Path diagram 2.

χ²=97.1, df=3, GFI=0.913 and p<0.0001.

Figure 3:

Path diagram 1.

χ²/df=4.16, GFI=0.992, RMSEA=0.094 and p<0.016.

Discussion

The application of ICT is very important as it plays an essential role in supporting PWDs by offering alternative means of communication, providing access to educational resources in more convenient ways, and enhancing learning motivation (UNESCO, 2011). Therefore, ICT integrated training, with access to education in various social development organizations, would provide opportunities for the majority of PWDs to be empowered, in both urban and rural areas. This study has addressed the impacts of ICT in the lives of PWDs. The findings show that the PWDs, who use ICT, have access to jobs, are self-dependent, and also can contribute to their family which may impact the economy positively. Therefore, awareness and application of ICT might be of crucial importance to solve the unemployment problem of the PWDs.

Today’s society must be inclusive, where the mutual respect and understanding will be the basis of the society [43]. Therefore, it is necessary to provide ICT training, which can empower and use the capabilities of PWDs. Our findings indicate that a proper approach of training, individual or institutional, might create learning materials that can help the PWDs to gain skills and find themselves suitable in the labor market, create jobs by them, and also, become an earning member which makes a person prestigious in the society. Although the creation of facilities to train the PWDs on ICT is challenging, we hope that the government will create and implement inclusive policies and programs to help the PWDs to avail adequate teaching and learning and to create an inclusive society eventually.

This study provides a deeper knowledge and understanding of the PWDs in Bangladesh and their experiences of everyday activities in relation to social support and how the application of ICT is gradually changing their way of life. However, it is indeed regrettable that Bangladesh does not have specific legislation dealing with disability issues. The parliament should immediately make awareness and enact necessary legislation to address the issues and potentials of the PWDs.

To minimize the digital divide in the disadvantaged communities, especially among PWDs, it requires sufficient understanding of the original causes of the digital division, favorable government policies, awareness and focus on the benefits that resulted from the ICT trainings and applications, a facility with proper infrastructure, and a dedicated management which would overcome various barriers or risks faced by PWDs [44]. An extensive ICT development and society’s ability to move along and adopt technological change mean that PWDs can also be the active part in social development [45]. Therefore, both the government and non-government organizations should come forward to accelerate the development of ICT-enabled tools to enhance the ability of PWDs which would ultimately provide a greater benefit to the country in socio-economic context.

Summary, limitations, and future research

ICT brings a groundbreaking change in the lives of PWDs through enabling and empowering them to do almost all types of work and contribute to society. With the help of ICT, the PWDs are getting self-dependent and exhibiting their latent talents in their respective jobs. In our study, in response to the question of what the PWDs would like to do in the future, all respondents stated that they would like to work with the help of ICT for the development of their country. The involvement of the PWDs into mainstream development will also assist Bangladesh to achieve its mission of upgrading its status from “lower middle-income” country to “middle-income” country by 2021 as per current expectation.

A major limitation of this study is the smaller sample size, and all respondents were from a specific district. It would be important to extrapolate our findings through expanding our research by incorporating representatives from all over the country who are also fortunate enough to attain self-dependency with the help of ICT. Another drawback is the lack of relevant secondary data, as the topic of ICT for PWDs is not very old and not much research has been done in this field. This field of ICT for the PWDs in Bangladesh is a recent topic; thus, there are many scopes within this field for further research. It would be worthwhile to expand our research using a larger sample size from various areas to obtain a better view of our findings.

This study would critically contribute to the knowledge building and research in the matters of governmental and non-governmental policies and programs-related ICT promotion in Bangladesh. Besides, the insights reported in this paper could provide useful input from a user perspective to do further quantitative research in this particular area using our identified indicators.