The chapter is on ICT skills training for the deaf to enhance employability prospects to improve social-economic development. Deaf employment is a global issue. ICT skills training might reduce the challenge. Little is known about ICT skills training for the deaf. The author interviewed 5 parents and 15 ICT skills training for the deaf graduates at the Open University of Tanzania. Data were collected using an interview guide with support from an experienced sign language interpreter. Findings indicated that ICT skills training increased participation in learning, employment, networking, and social inclusion. However, they faced challenges related to community perception, resources availability, affordability, connectivity, funding, and availability of ICT skills training opportunities that met their special learning needs. Based on the results, people with disabilities have to learn ICT skills that meet their unique special needs to reduce the negative effects of the impact of disruptive technologies and employability in the 4th Industrial Revolution.
TopBackground
Information, communication, and technology (ICT) skills training for the deaf people with disabilities is important for realizing employment, job creation and contributing to personal and national development (Ajrun, 2021; Enkhtsogt & Kim, 2018; Ngonyani & Mnyanyi, 2021; Thompson, 2018; Ullmann, et al., 2018). Delayed, creation of ICT skills training to persons who are deaf increases negative impact of the disruptive technologies on the socio-economic development related to personal freedom, reduced employment chances, loss of jobs, reduced participation in digital economy, increased illiteracy and reduced creativity in social network (Melnyk, et al., 2019; Muza & Debnath, 2021; Sineviciene, et al., 2021). According to WHO projections, approximately 2.5 billion individuals will have hearing loss by the year 2050, at least 700million of them would need rehabilitation services (WHO, 2021). Furthermore, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), an international non-governmental organization in 2013 estimated around 72 million deaf persons and that More than 80 percent of these 72 million people, resided in developing nations, where the government frequently has little knowledge of their needs. It is estimated that the number of people with disabilities is on the increase, accounting for about 15% of the population, indicating a need to have in place systems that support disability inclusion (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2011; WHO, 2018; Thomson, 2018).