Approximately forty percent of people in Bangladesh are illiterate or print disabled (unable to read printed materials). Accessible information has not been available to this group and their information rights have not been recognised. Approximately four million people are visually impaired in Bangladesh and a number of visually impaired students are now studying at school and university level.

There is a severe lack of adequate study materials and books for this group, both for sale in the markets and available in libraries. Class notes and lectures are a basis for study at School and University level; however these are not made in an accessible format for the visually impaired. The visually impaired and print disabled, are always disadvantaged in their studies because of this information lack.

Globally, information communication technology systems are including the print disabled and visually impaired people with accessible information systems and study information materials, which allow them equal access to education. YPSA’s IRCD is working towards a goal of improving the availability of accessible reading materials in Bangladesh and building skills and opportunities for all people to use ICT.

Training such people to use ICT will enrich their knowledge, their ability to use the Internet, their reading of daily newspapers, their use of ‘Digital Talking Books’, their ability to search job information and will also help them to acquire the skills needed to do certain work. The objective of training is to increase knowledge and literacy of ICT.