ICT Survey PWDs - Connecting PWDs Nationwide! · 2019. 3. 15. · (2) Ye Win - He had graduated majoring in Electronic Engineering from Yangon Technological University. He is a former

A Preliminary Survey on the Access to ICT and

Mobile Technologies among PWDs in Myanmar

1

A Preliminary Survey

on the Access to ICT and

Mobile Technologies

among PWDs in Myanmar



2

A Preliminary Survey

on the Access to ICT and

Mobile Technologies

among PWDs in Myanmar



3

No. Content Page no.

1. Acronyms 5

2. Acknowledgements 7

3. Executive Summary 8

4. Summary of the Study 8

5. Objectives of the Survey 8

6. Methodology 9

7. Introduction 9

8. 1. Characteristics of Respondents in the Survey 10

9. 1.1. Age of Respondents 10

10. 1.2. Gender of Respondents 10

11. 1.3. Education Levels of Respondents 10

12. 1.4. States and Regions of Respondents 11

13. 1.5. Types of Disabilities of Respondents 11

14. 1.6. Review on the Characteristics of Respondents in the Survey 12

15. 2. Access to ICT and Mobile Technologies among PWDs 16

16. 2.1. TechCamp Participant PWDs’ access to Computer 16

17. 2.2. The Usage of Mobile Technologies among PWDs who access to ICT 18

18. 2.3. Software used by PWDs who have access to computers 19

19. 2.4. Review on the usage of Mobile Technologies among PWDs

who access to ICT 19

20. 2.5. Voices of PWDs who access to ICT at TechCamp for PWDs 19

21. 2.6. Review on the voices 20

22. 3. Access to Mobile Technologies of the Respondents 21

23. 3.1. The Usage of Mobile Phone Applications among PWDs who

can use ICT technologies 21

24. 3.2. The Usage of Phone Prepaid Cards by the PWDs 21

25. 4. The PWDs’ Usage to Internet 22

26. 4.1. Comparing Daily Social Media Usage of PWDs 22

27. 4.2. Getting Information of PWDs in the survey 24

28. 4.3. The Access to ICT and Mobile Technologies among the Respondent 26

29. 5. Respondents Views and Attitudes towards Access to ICT and Mobile

Technologies among PWDs in Myanmar 27

30. 5.1. PWD’s Attitudes towards ICT 27

5.2. Review of PWD’s Attitudes towards ICT 28

31. 6. Conclusion 28



4

Content of Figures

Figure 1: Age of survey respondents 10

Figure 2: Gender of survey respondents 10

Figure 3: Education Levels of survey respondents 11

Figure 4: States and Regions of survey respondents 11

Figure 5: Types of disabilities of survey respondents 12

Figure 6(a): Computer usage of respondents of the survey 16

Figure 6(b): Computer usage of respondents of the survey 17

Figure 6(c): Computer usage of respondents of the survey 17

Figure 7: Percentage of PWDs laptop users in the survey 17

Figure 8: Percentage of PWDs desktop computer users in the survey 18

Figure 9: Access to mobile phones of respondents of the survey 18

Figure 10: Percentage of the respondents’ mobile devices usage 19

Figure 11: Social Media Daily Usage of the Respondents 22

Figure 12: Email Usage of the Respondents 23

Figure 13: Facebook Usage of the Respondents 23

Figure 14: Facebook Messenger Usage of the Respondents 23

Figure 15: Viber usage of the Respondents in the survey 24

Figure 16: Getting Information from TV by the Respondents in the survey 24

Figure 17: Getting Information from Radio by the Respondents in the survey 25

Figure 18: Information source from Press Media for the Respondents in the survey 25

Figure 19: Information Source from sharing among PWDs 25

Figure 20: Percentage of usefulness of ICT for PWDs 26

Figure 21: Condition of internet connection for the respondents in these days 26

Figure 22: Condition of Mobile Phone Connection for the respondents in these days 27

Content of Tables

Table 1: Types of Software used by PWDs in this survey 19

Table 2: Phone Applications used by PWDs Mobile Phone Users 21

Table 3: PWDs’ monthly expenditure on Prepaid Cards for their Mobile Phones 21

Table 4: PWDs’ usage to Internet 22



5

Acronyms

ICT - Information and Communication Techonologies.

PWDs - Person with Disablities.

MMKs - Myanmar Kyats.

PC - Personal Computer.

JAWS - Job Access with Speech (Computer Screen Reader Program).

MMKs - Myanmar Currency (Myanmar Kyats)

NVDA - Non-Visual Desktop Access (Open Source, portable screen reader).

DSW - Department of Social Walfare.

TLMI - The Leprosy Mission International.

CP - Cerebral Palsy.

Tech Camp - Techonology Camp.

TV - Television

UNICEF - The United Nation Childrens' Fund.

B.A. - Bechlor of Arts.

B.Sc. - Bechlor of Science.

CSOs - Civil Society Organizations



6

iSchool-Myanmar

iSchool-Myanmar was founded in 1st October 2012. Since that time, in order to support

Democratization and peace process, advocacy platform and outreach activities throughout

Myanmar through the provision of new technology and knowledge to democratic actors and

organizations, iSchool-Myanmar promoting the program to develop in ICT sectors, advocating to

Inclusive Technology and conducting to civics empowerment education.

© Copyright iSchool-Myanmar

Published by iSchool-Myanmar, November 2016

Email – [email protected]

Web – www.ischoolmyanmarapps.com

Facebook – www.facebook.com/ischool.mmr

Researchers:

(1) Aung Ni Oo - He is a former Chief Editor of Myanmar Scholar Journal. Now, he is working

as a Chief Editor of Myanmar Cultural Research Journal, a freelance translator and writer.

He also serves as an advisory board member for iSchool-Myanmar.

(2) Ye Win - He had graduated majoring in Electronic Engineering from Yangon

Technological University. He is a former political prisoner and student activist. Now, he is

a co-founder and program manager of iSchool-Myanmar and serves as a joint secretary

for “Education Movement Committee for Person with Disability (Myanmar)”.

(3) Naw Zar Phyu Khant – She had graduated majoring in Computer Technology from

University of Computer Studies (Yangon). She is a women rights activist and a consultant

for Ethnics Youth Networks. Now, she is a co-founder and Admin Coordinator of iSchool-

Myanmar.



7

Acknowledgements

One of the main missions of ISchool-Myanmar is to develop inclusive technologies in Myanmar.

This survey is the preliminary one to implement the mission, and publishing this survey bilingual in

Burmese and English is one of its purposes.

We are grateful to all the organizations who participates in “TechCamp for PWDs”, namely

Disabled People Organizations (DPOs), US Embassy, Internews and Phandeyar for their supports to

accomplish publishing this survey.

We are also grateful for our volunteers in this survey as research assistance: Nan Zarchi Htun, Ko

Aung Phone Khant, Ko Kaung Htet Lin @ Kaung Kaung, Ko Myo Ko Ko and Khun Thein Zaw.

The one who documented the whole event and made cover designs for this survey is Aung Chan

Nge @ Ei Nge; and also the one who has made many cover designs and layouts of ISchool-Myanmar’s

publishing, Ko Myat Minn Khant, we would like to thank them with mutual attitudes.

We are greatful to Ko Soe Htun (Director, ISchool-Myanmar), for his valuable advice, within his

limited time.

Especially, we would like to thank the researchers for the survey, Ko Aung Ni Oo and Naw Zar

Phyu Khant @ Day Day as their commitment to their participation in quantitative and qualitative

approaches to it.

Along with them, Ko Phyo Win Latt (Ph.D. Candidate, National University Singapore, specialized

in Social History of Southeast Asia) owes to our gratitude for his editing the survey.

Finally, we would like to thank to everyone who has made supports for this survey.

Ye Win

Program Manager

ISchool-Myanmar

Researchers:

1) Aung Ni Oo

2) Ye Win

3) Naw Zar Phyu Khant @ Day Day



8

Executive Summary

ISchool-Myanmar has conducted a survey on the Access to ICT and Mobile Technologies among

PWDs in Myanmar among the participants of Tech Camp for PWDs from May 11 to May 13, 2016 at the

Yangon School for the Blinds (Khawechan). The participants of the camp are from 6 different states and

regions in Myanmar. 40 enthusiastic respondents participated in the survey. The survey employs a

combination of both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the survey data and utilized right based

approach informed by “UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” and “The Rights of

Persons with Disabilities Law, 2015 (30/2015)”. Through the findings of the survey, the study concluded

that the demands of the PWDs who participated in the survey are very legitimate, practical, and necessary

for their daily livelihoods and their “effective participation in society”.

Summary of the Study

Myanmar has undergone political transformation followed by social and economic changes since

2010. The government allows direct investments of foreign telecom operators which results in easy access

to mobile SIM cards and data and voice packages even among the grassroots. Because of that, people in

Myanmar are now exposed to smart phones and mobile applications. However, there are questions to be

asked whether everyone in the country has equal access to these new technologies.

According to the census taken in 2014, there are 2.3 million PWDs in Myanmar. Having access to

light and easy to carry smart phones enable PWDs who have limited mobility to communicate more

effectively. Mobile applications like Viber, Messenger and other chatting applications help them with

communications, while text to speech software help them to listen to news and other information on the

internet.

PWD’s in Myanmar are still facing limited access to formal education. Therefore, this survey is only

limited to PWDs who have basic education background and who can use ICT and mobile technologies.

Large majorities of the PWDs in Myanmar are still facing barriers to access ICT and mobile technologies.

This preliminary survey expects to understand the trends of PWDs who are using ICT and mobile

technologies to improve their lives.

Objectives of the Survey

As stated above, this survey expects to understand the trends of PWDs who are using ICT and

mobile technologies to improve their lives. And to find out how concerned actors from multiple sectors can

corporate in creating technologies and applications that can help improve the lives of the PWDs. The

survey finds that PWDs with basic education and university education can better utilize the technologies to

increase their communications and access to information that are very beneficial to them. ISchool

Myanmar expects to conduct more comprehensive and distributive surveys like this in the future that will

help us understand the issues, concerns, and challenges related to PWD’s access to ICT and mobile

technologies.



9

Methodology

This study is a combination of both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the survey data. The

survey was conducted among the participants of Tech Camp for PWDs organized by I School Myanmar

from May 11 to May 13, 2016 at the Yangon School for the Blinds (Khawechan). The participants of the

camp are from 6 different states and regions in Myanmar. 40 enthusiastic respondents participated in the

survey.

Introduction

The government of Myanmar was conducted its first census during 30 years in 2014. The census

information indicates that 2.3 million people in the nation, which is 4.6% of the total population are PWDs.

Definitions of disabilities in the census are taken from the 2010 survey conducted by Department of Social

Welfare (DSW) and The Leprosy Mission International (TLMI), which stated four kinds of disabilities;

physical, visual, hearing, and learning disabilities (DSW and TLMI, 2010).

On June 5, 2015, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw enacted “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law, 2015

(30/2015)”. Section 1 of the law defines disabilities as; “those who have long-term physical, mental,

intellectual or sensory impairments whether inborn or not, which in interaction with various barriers may

hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”.

While conducting our survey, we allowed the respondents to self-identify the types of disabilities

they have. Among the 40 respondents, there are people with paralytic polio, physical disabilities, cerebral

palsy (CP), visually impaired persons, hearing impaired persons, and intellectual disabled persons.

We clearly want to state here that existing surveys and assessments indicate that the opportunities

for PWDs to study at formal institution are still very nominal. In a study conducted by Department of

Social Welfare, every one out of two PWDs has never been to school (DSW and TLMI, 2010). The

limitation of the survey is that it can only cover the PWDs who have access to at least basic level of

education and able to access ICT and mobile technologies already. We are well aware that there are many

PWDs who can’t access ICT and mobile technologies due to their lack of basic education.

67 percent of the children with disabilities are out of the formal education system, and do not

attend school. Almost all parents of these children with disabilities (99%) have never been advised on the

use of assistive technology devices.1

For this reason, it is found that theme should be responsive collaboration to enhance the situation

of PWDs to acquire the basic education, and if possible, to access to ICT and Mobile technologies among

them and others.

In applying qualitative analysis of the survey data, we also conducted face to face interviews with

the respondents, family members of friends who accompany them to the TechCamp, apart from

conducting survey using formal questionnaire. We incorporate elements of these findings to reflect a more

complete picture of the PWDs and how ICT and mobile technologies influence their daily lives.

1 Situation Analysis of Children with Disabilities in the Republic of Union of Myanmar, 2016, DSW and

UIICEF



10

1. Characteristics of Respondents in the Survey

1.1. Age of Respondents

It is found that most of the applicants for Tech Camp for PWDs are less than 30 years old. Also, 23

respondents in conducting the survey are under the age of 30, and 17 are above that age.

Figure 1: Age of survey respondents

1.2. Gender of Respondents

In the survey, 24 male respondents and 16 female ones have participated.

Figure 2: Gender of survey respondents

1.3. Education Levels of Respondents

Various levels of education of respondents for the survey can be found 21 respondents have

attained university education, 12 respondents graduated high school education, 2 respondents have

accomplished middle school education, 3 respondents have got primary education and 2 respondents have

non-formal education.

0

5

10

15

20

25

Under 30 years old (23 PWDs) Over 30 years old (17 PWDs)

Survey Participants of PWDs (Age)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Male (24

Participants)

Female (16

Participants)

Gender



11

Figure 3: Education Levels of survey respondents

1.4. States and Regions of Respondents

The respondents of the survey are from 6 different states and regions in Myanmar: 27 from Yangon

Region, 1 from Ayeyarwaddy Region, 2 from Bago Region, 6 from Mandalay Region, 3 from Shan State and

1 from Mon State.

Figure 4: States and Regions of survey respondents

1.5. Types of Disabilities of Respondents

While conducting the survey, the respondents are allowed to self-identify the types of disabilities

they have. Among the 40 respondents, there are 6 people with paralytic polio, 14 physical disabilities, 1

person with cerebral palsy (CP) and hard of hearing, 2 Cerebral Palsy persons, 5 visually impaired persons,

10 hearing impaired persons and 2 intellectual disable persons.

0

5

10

15

20

25

University

Level

High School

Level

Middle

School Level

Primary

School Level

Non-Formal

Education

Education Level

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Yangon

Division

Ayarwaddy

Division

Bago

Division

Mandalay

Division

Shan State Mon State

States & Divisions



12

Figure 5: Types of disabilities of survey respondents

1.6. Review on the Characteristics of Respondents in the Survey

In this study, the majority of the respondents’ ages are under 30 years. The numbers of male

respondents are more than females. Large majority of respondents of the survey have accomplished high

school and university level education. A large portion of respondents are persons with paralytic polio and

physical impairments, and the percentage of hard of hearing people is second in conducting the survey.

As mentioned above, there is a great difference of education background among respondents. Also,

age and gender rates are different. There are 23 people who are under the age of 30, and 17 people who are

above that age. There are 24 male participants and 16 females for this survey. The education levels of

respondents to the survey include 21 university level, 12 high school graduates, 2 middle school education

accomplishment, 3 primary level education and, and 2 non-formal education access. Their types of

disabilities and their residents are, also, stated in above respective figures.

Among the respondents who take part in the survey themselves, but 2 persons with intellectual

disability response the questionnaire through their family members. They are from Taunggyi, Shan State.

One is male and 19 years old, another is female and 27 years of age. He can read and write and cannot use

computer, but uses smart phone, using about 10,000 MMKs monthly for prepaid card for his phone. He

has accessed to Email, Facebook and Viber daily He watches TV, listens to the radio and reads some

printed journals daily. The strange thing is that although he cannot speak language well, he can remember

popular songs and recite the flow of the music in his mimic voices. He is a dependent to his family.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Person with

Polio

Disabities

Physical

Impairments

CP-Cerebral

Palsy

CP & Hard of

Hearing

People

Person with

Vision

Disability

Deaf & Hard

of Hearing

People

Person with

Intellectual

Disability

Types of Disabilities



13

The 27 year old intellectual disable female one had graduated middle school education. She owns

her laptops and smart phone. Although she is a dependent, she can use 30,000 MMKs per month for ICT

and mobile phone applications. She daily uses Emails, Facebook, Facebook Messenger and Viber,

Watching TV, listening to the radio and reading news journals daily.

Among the 5 visually impaired persons, the one who has the age of 27 from Kyikehto township,

Mon State, has acquired the matriculation education, uses her office PC and her own smart phone. Some of

the software, she uses as a visually impaired person are JAWS, NVDA, Talk Back, Google Text Speech, and

etc. Her monthly income is about 100,000 MMKs and she uses 20,000 MMKs for her ICT and mobile

communications monthly.

Another one is a dependent 24 years old lady, studying History from distant university education.

She owns her laptop computer and uses her smart phone, accessing Facebook and Facebook messenger.

Her expenditure for mobile utilizing is within 5,000 MMKs monthly.

The one who attending the first year Psychology class at the university, is 21 years old and uses

KeyPad phone, listening to the radio and MP3 format songs. She uses only about 1,000 MMKs for phone

bill. Her monthly income is 30,000 MMKs.

Another one has attained B.A. (History) and as the other three persons, lives in Yangon. He uses

both laptop and desktop computer in his home and office. He owns a smart phone, filling about 10,000

MMKs for his ICT and mobile utilizing per month. His monthly income is 130,000 MMKs.

The last visually impaired one is a 25 years old man living in Mandalay, using laptop, desktop and

smart phone and spends 6,000 MMKs monthly for prepaid card. His monthly income is 50,000 MMKs. He

listens to the radio and share news with his friends daily.

In examining the level of education of 10 hearing impaired persons, it is found that there are 2

persons who have attained only primary education. There are only 3 respondents of the whole survey in the

total number of 40 who have accessed to primary education. These ones are all females: the one is 49 years

old and another is 39 years old. They live in Yangon. The former gains 25,000 MMKs for her monthly

salary and uses only 1000 MMKs for her computer and smart phone prepaid card. The latter uses only

smart phone and her monthly prepaid card bill is about 10,000 MMKs though she is a dependent to her

family. Her daily accesses are Facebook and Viber.

5 hearing impaired persons acquired high school education. 3 pre-matriculations and 2

matriculations educated ones. The 3 pre-matriculation ones are males and live in Yangon. They all use

computers and smart phones. The first one is 49 years old and his monthly income is 150,000 MMKs and

uses about 10,000 MMKs for his prepaid card or bill. He uses Email, Facebook, Viber, Facebook Messenger

daily. He also shares news to his friends. The second one is 33 years old, earning 200,000 MMKs and

spends 30,000 MMKs for prepaid card to communicate. His daily ICT and mobile uses include Email,

Facebook, Viber, and Facebook Messenger. The third one is the age of 35 who is a dependent one to his

family, but he uses 15,000 MMKs for prepaid card in his mobile communication monthly. He shares news

and information among his friends, using Facebook, Viber and Facebook Messenger.

In this survey, there are 2 hearing impaired persons who can access to matriculation classes. Both

of them are males and live in Yangon now, using computers and smart phones. One person earns 120,000



14

MMKs as his salary and uses 12,000 MMKs for his communication, another gets 50,000 MMKs as his

salary, but uses more than 10,000 MMKs for his prepaid cards to communicate with his friends. They use

Facebook, Viber, Facebook Messenger, and share information among their friends.

Among the 10 hearing impaired, one has graduated B.A. (Business Management). She lives in

Yangon, earning 150,000 MMKs for her salary and using computer and smart phone. She is 39 years old

and monthly uses 5,000 MMKs prepaid card for Email, Facebook, Viber, Facebook Messenger. She always

shares information among her friends online. Another one was then attending third year B.A. class

majoring Economics. He has no monthly income because he is a dependent one. He always spends at least

10,000 MMKs for his communication.

The last one of the hearing impaired is the one who has middle school education. Her education

did not go forward. She only uses smart phone, not computer, sharing information through Facebook and

Viber.

14 physical disabilities have participated as respondents in the survey. There are 9 university level

educated and 5 matriculation level educated among them.

Those 3 who have acquired university education are females and live in Yangon. All of them are

familiar with computers and smart phones. The first one has attained B.A. (Geography), earning 160,000

MMKs salary, and her age is 50. Her spend for prepaid card for every month is 10,000 MMKs. The second

attained B.A. (Myanmar), but she has no monthly income. She uses Facebook, Email, Viber and Facebook

Messengers daily, spending 5,000 MMKs monthly. The third one is a holder of B.E.Com (Statistics),

earning 200,000 MMKs as her salary. She monthly spends 20,000 MMKs for Email, Facebook, Viber and

Facebook Messenger.

6 persons with physical disabilities are males and under the age of 30. All of them use computers

and smart phones. The one who holds B.Sc. (Chemistry) is from Ayeyarwaddy region and 26 years old. His

monthly income is 150,000 MMKs and he uses 10,000 MMK for prepaid cards for his communication,

sharing information among PWDs via Facebook and Facebook Messenger. The one who holds B.Sc.

(Math) is from Mandalay region. He uses Facebook, Viber, Facebook Messenger daily, but he spend only

5,000 MMKs monthly for this. The one who holds B.A. (Myanmar) earns the salary of 200,000 MMKs,

living in Yangon and spending 20,000 MMKs for data and information sharing through Facebook and

Facebook Messenger for his friends. This is a remarkable point to compare them.

There are some persons with physical disabilities for this survey: some university students of this

type. A 22 year old third year student of Mandalay has enrolled for his class in one of Mandalay region,

uses Facebook, Viber, Facebook Messenger daily and watches TV and shares information, spending 10,000

MMKs for his mobile phone. Another one is 23 years old, attending B.A. (Law) third year and earning

200,000 MMKs monthly at Mandalay. He also uses Facebook and Facebook Messenger and watches TV

and shares news and information. He spends 10,000 MMKs for his communication through ICT and

Mobile Technologies. The one, who is attending B.A. (Myanmar) class, lives in Yangon. His monthly salary

is 200,000 MMKs and he spends 15,000 MMKs for his use daily use of Facebook, Viber and Facebook

Messenger.



15

There are 5 respondents of physical disabilities who taken part in responding the questionnaire. All

are males. They all use computer and smart phones excepts from one. It is found that two men are 32 years

old. They had passed matriculation level education. One lives in Mandalay Region, earning 200,000 MMKs

as his monthly salary and using only 5,000 MMKs for mobile phone communication.

Other lives in Yangon. They have their connections between them and/or among others. The one

who lives in Yangon has no permanent income. He uses 4,000 MMKs every month for his communication

through mobile devices via Facebook. There is a person who can use only 2,000 MMKs for every month, at

the age of 28, matriculation level education, no access to computer, but only use smart phone without any

income. The one who lives in Bago region has the same education level and he is 25 years old, without any

income, but uses Facebook, Viber and Facebook Messenger through his smart phone. He also shares

information among his friends. The one who lives in Mandalay region spends 3,000 MMKs from his

monthly 60,000 MMKs income for Facebook and Facebook Messenger in his everyday life.

Among 6 paralytic polios, there is 1 man and 5 women, but they all acquire university education.

The man is 36 years old and lives in Yangon, holding B.A. (Myanmar) degree. His salary is 120,000 MMKs

and he can access to computer and smart phone. He uses Facebook, TV every day, and reads newspapers

and news journals daily, and sharing them among his friends.

Except from 2 women of paralytic polios who use no computer, one of the women of such type of

disability uses computer and smart phone for about 15,000 MMKs monthly while she earns 600,000 MMKs

for monthly salary. She lives in Shan State and holds B.Com., D.A., (LCCI, UK) and is 46 years old.

Another holds B.A. (Geography) and live in Yangon. He uses computer and smart phone and spends

5,000- 10,000 MMKs per month for prepaid card. They use Email, Facebook, Viber, Facebook Messenger,

watch TV every night, read daily newspaper and share information among their friends.

The other two women use no computers, but only smart phones. One lives in Yangon and is 33

years old; holding B.A. (Myanmar) and earning 400,000 MMKs salary monthly. Another is 38 years old

and lives in Yangon, holding B.Sc. (Chemistry) and earning 150,000 MMKs monthly as her salary. Both of

them use Facebook and Viber daily, listen to the radio, read newspapers and news journals and share

information daily. The last one is 21 years old and lives in Yangon, attending second year B.A. course

specialized in Myanmar at a university. She has no monthly income but she can use computer and smart

phone, spending 30,000 MMKs monthly for her communication and utilizing of Facebook, Viber and

Facebook Messenger.

This survey examines 2 Cerebral Palsy (CPs) who are males. The first one is 40 years old, lives in

Yangon and a high school graduate. He uses computer and smart phone, reads daily newspaper and news

journals. The second one is 26 years old and lives in Mandalay. He gains only primary education, but he

uses his computer. He uses keypad phone, spending 2,000 MMKs for his prepaid card monthly. He can

access to Facebook daily.

The last respondent of this survey is the one who suffers both CPs and hard of hearing. He is 32

years old and lives in Yangon, holding B.A. (Myanmar). He uses computer and smart phones; spend 15,000

MMKs for prepaid card to access Email, Facebook, Viber, Facebook Messenger and share information

among his friends, but, he has no monthly income.



16

In this survey, there are findings of PWDs’ ages, genders, education levels, locations and types of

disability with relation to their assessment of ICT and mobile technologies on the ground of their living

conditions and daily life styles.

The access to ICT and mobile technologies among PWDs is not related to their difference of

gender, localities, and income. It is clearly found that most of the respondents spend 10,000 MMKs and

more than that though they are dependent to their families. The ones who earn a good monthly income,

spends less than 10,000 or just 5,000 MMKs monthly to access to their communication. The strange thing

is that 2 respondents of this survey who are dependent to their family monthly use 30,000 MMKs, while the

one who earns 600,000 MMKs for her monthly salary spends only 15,000 MMKs for her prepaid card for

communication.

A remarkable point in this study is that access to ICT and mobile technologies among PWDs is not

dependent on their education levels.

The main causes of differences of the access to ICT and mobile technologies among PWDs in

Myanmar are two things - the first is their types of disability; and the second is the attitudes of their

environments (e.g., these PWDs are supported to attend the TechCamp by their parents, friends, partners,

and so on ... while others have no chances to attain such opportunities).

2. Access to ICT and Mobile Technologies among PWDs

2.1. TechCamp Participant PWDs’ access to Computer

As mentioned above, the participants of TechCamp and this survey have already had access to ICT

and mobile technologies. As a study, their responds to the survey questionnaire, their responses are that

82.5% of the respondents uses computer, and 17.5% of them is not familiar with such things.

Figure 6(a): Computer usage of respondents of the survey

In this study, their detail usage of types of computer can be stated that 37.5% of the respondents

have accessed to computers from their offices, friends or sharing with partners, 30% of the respondents use

their own ones while 17.5% has no access to use computers.

0.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

Use (82.5%) No Use (17.5%)

Computer Usage



17

Figure 6(b): Computer usage of respondents of the survey

Figure 6(c): Computer usage of respondents of the survey

Those PWDs who use computers can be categorized that 30% uses laptop computers, another 30%

uses desktop computers and 22.5% uses both of them.

The usage of PWDs’ laptop computers is that 15% of them have their own ones; 10% of them use in

their offices; and 7.5% of them shares with their friends to use.

Figure 7: Percentage of PWDs laptop users in the survey

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

Own Personal

Computer (30%)

Use from Office &

Friends (37.5%)

No Use (17.5%)

Computer Usage

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

Laptop User

(30%)

Desktop User

(30%)

Both Laptop &

Desktop User

(22.5%)

Computer Usage

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

Own From Office From Friends

Laptop User

Laptop User



18

In fact, it is found that 15% of the respondents use their desktop computers; 10% of them have only

access to it is in their offices; and those who shares with their friends desktop computers are only 5% in this

survey.

Figure 8: Percentage of PWDs desktop computer users in the survey

2.2. The Usage of Mobile Technologies among PWDs who access to ICT

In this study, it is found that those who can access to ICT use mobile phones are 59 percent of

PWDs who access to ICT, uses smart phones; while only 5% of them uses keypad ones.

Figure 9: Access to mobile phones of respondents of the survey

This study extends to the investigation of the access of PWDs’ other mobile devices. 70 percent of

the respondents have smart phones as a mobile device. Some users have Android based applicable Tablets;

25% in this survey; and 2.5 percent of the respondents use Ipad.

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

Own From Office From Other

Desktop User

Desktop User

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Smart Phone Keypad Phone

Mobile Phone Usgae



19

Figure 10: Percentage of the respondents’ mobile devices usage

2.3. Software used by PWDs who have access to computers

The PWDs of this TechCamp who have access to computers are examined what types of software

have been used by them in this survey. The result can be seen in the following table:

No Types of software Percentage

1. Word Processing Software 80%

2. Software for Presentation 60%

3. Photo Editing Software 52.5%

4. Games 37.5%

Table 1: Types of Software used by PWDs in this survey

2.4. Review on the usage of Mobile Technologies among PWDs who access to ICT

40 PWDs who have accessed to ICT in this survey use mobile phones, but 17.5% of them do not use

computers. Only 30% of them use their own computers and the rest share computers of their offices and of

their friends. The percentage of using laptop and desktop computers by PWDs are the same and some

PWDs use both of them.

Among the 40 PWDs, all use mobile phones, and 25% of them use Android based mobile devices,

and 2.5% of them use Ipad. Most of PWDs are familiar with Word Processing Software and Photo editing

ones, but some have the ability to use presentation software.

2.5. Voices of PWDs who access to ICT at TechCamp for PWDs

“I have a hope to develop Myanmar speaking software for the blind”

_ (25 years old, a blind, Mandalay)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

No Use Tablet

(Android)

MP3 & Digital

Radio

Ipad

Other Mobile Devices Usgae



20

“As in foreign countries, sign boards at the cross-roads and transportation for the deaf is necessary”

_ (A deaf at the TechCamp)

“On-line have its benefits to communication and making networks between and among PWDs”

_ (a deaf holding B.A. (Economics))

“Living in faraway places, low access to technologies, and poor access to formal education, PWDs in

Myanmar are weak to connect with modern education”

_ (A physical impaired woman, who holds B.Com. (Statistics))

“I want to communicate with others by sign language on my phone”

_ (A deaf one)

“There should have been applications for the PWDs, as their education, extending to Inclusive

Education (IE) for PWDs’ survival and education”

_ (a physical impaired woman from Ayyarwaddy Region, holding B.Sc. (Chemistry))

“Application for Android phones, especially for PWDs, are very useful us”

_ (A physical impaired one from Pegu Region)

“I want to use sign language based Application on phone”

_ (a deaf one)

“There are two ways: to expend our experience through ICT; and to share it among us”

_ (A physical impaired one in Yangon)

“ICT means a window to the world; we, especially PWDs can use it to see things outside our house”

_ (A polio one from Shan State)

“I would like to suggest that there must be software for hard of hearing persons in time of natural

disasters”

_ (A CP and hard of hearing person)

2.6. Review on the voices

The following is the review of the voices of respondents who have participated in TechCamp for

PWDs from May 11 to May 13, 2016 at the Yangon School for the blind (Khawechan).

The basic differences between researchers and respondents that there are a great varieties between

them and among PWDs to define the meaning of the access to ICT.



21

For example, software and Android applications used by the blind are directly opposite to those of

the deaf. It is because of the differences between the natures between them.

It is found that the physical impaired and the polios are not different from the normal people, they

can access to ICT as the normal ones though they cannot have the same mobility as normal ones.

There is a suggestion in this survey that “because the deaf cannot response to the natural disasters, the

creation of applications for them is an urgent need.” In this survey it can be concluded that it needs to be

examined, discussed and created mobile ICT software and hardware devices to cope with the conditions of

the PWDs. The deaf cannot hear or read the news and information from normal channels such as radios

and televisions. Also, the blind cannot know the printed news channels. In time of disasters, there should

and must be ICT programs or applications to access direct indications and directions for the PWDs to help

them for their mobility for their survival.

3. Access to Mobile Technologies of the Respondents

3.1. The Usage of Mobile Phone Applications among PWDs who can use ICT technologies

In this survey, what kinds of applications are used in their mobile phones of the PWD respondents is

examined. The following can show that Facebook, Viber, camera applications and Gmail are their favorites.

No. Phone Applications Percentage

1. Facebook 90%

2. Viber 85%

3. Gmail 65%

4. Camera Application 72.5%

5. Note 55%

6. Game 50%

7. Map 37.5%

8. Hangout 12.5%

9. None Users 7.5%

Table 2: Phone Applications used by PWDs Mobile Phone Users

3.2. The Usage of Phone Prepaid Cards by the PWDs

It is found that most of the PWDs who can use mobile phone spend no more than 10,000 MMKs

for their prepaid cards monthly.

No. Price of Monthly Prepaid Card Percentage

1. Under 5,000 MMKs 27.5%

2. Under 10,000 MMKs 30%

3. Under 20,000 MMKs 22.5%

4. Above 20,000 MMKs 12.5%

5. No Answered 7.5%

Table 3: PWDs’ monthly expenditure on Prepaid Cards for their Mobile Phones



22

4. The PWDs’ Usage to Internet

The respondents’ using Internet is also examined. The table (4) shows that a great majority of those

use Facebook, Gmail and browsing news.

No. Internet Usage Percentage

1. Facebook 92.5%

2. Gmail 70%

3. Browsing News 70%

4. Google Search Engine 67.5%

5. YouTube 55%

6. Google Drive 22.5%

7. No Answered 5%

Table 4: PWDs’ usage to Internet

4.1. Comparing Daily Social Media Usage of PWDs

Because of political transparency followed by social and economic changes since 2010 affects PWDs

in the society, to have an access to light and easy to carry smart phones in communication more effectively.

Thus, daily social media usage of PWDs is studied in this survey what kinds of application they use daily in

their mobile phones for social media communications among them.

Figure 11: Social Media Daily Usage of the Respondents

Their Email Usage is that most of usage the PWDs weekly and the daily user percentage is 27.5%.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Facebook (75%) Facebook

Messenger

(62.5%)

Viber (62.5%) Gmail (27.5%)

Social Media Daily Usage



23

Figure 12: Email Usage of the Respondents

The great majority of daily Internet users who use Facebook among the respondents can be seen in

the following figure.

Figure 13: Facebook Usage of the Respondents

In the same way, it is found that the respondents in this survey mostly use Facebook Messenger daily.

Figure 14: Facebook Messenger Usage of the Respondents

0%

10%

20%

30%

Daily

(27.5%)

3 Days Once

(10%)

A week

Once (13%)

Often (25%)

Email Usage

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Daily (75%) 3 Days Once

(2.5%)

A week

Once (10%)

Often (5%)

Facebook Usage

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Daily

(62.5%)

3 Days Once

(2.5%)

A week

Once (7.5%)

Often

(17.5%)

Facebook Messenger Usage



24

The respondents of this survey use Viber daily. This can be found in the following figure.

Figure 15: Viber usage of the Respondents in the survey

4.2. Getting Information of PWDs in the survey

How can the PWDs of this TechCamp get their daily information is also important for this survey.

It is also study in this survey, 40% of the respondents watches TV and 32.5% of them listens to the radio.

The following figures demonstrate how those PWDs get information from TV and radio.

Figure 16: Getting Information from TV by the Respondents in the survey

In this survey, it is also found that the respondents read daily and weekly newspapers and news

journals as their source of information.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Daily (62.5%) 3 Days Once

(2.5%)

A week Once

(7.5%)

Often (17.5%)

Viber Usage

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Daily Use (40%) Often (25%) No Comment

Information from TV



25

Figure 17: Getting Information from Radio by the Respondents in the survey

Figure 18: Information source from Press Media for the Respondents in the survey

Another information source for the PWDs is that they share news and information between and

among them. So their sharing information is a kind of getting information among them.

Figure 19: Information Source from sharing among PWDs

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Daily Use

(32.5%)

Often

(27.5%)

No Comment

(37.5)

No Use

(2.5%)

Information from Radio

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Daily Use (50%) Often (12%) No Comment

(7.5)

Information from Press Media

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Always (55%) Often (32.5%) No Comment (5)

Sharing Information among PWDs



26

4.3. The Access to ICT and Mobile Technologies among the Respondent

Personal reflection to how ICT and mobile technology to their lives of the respondents is that,

47.5% of them agreed that these are essential to their lives and other 47.5% only response that these are

useful ones for them. There is no negative response to the ICT and mobile technologies.

Figure 20: Percentage of usefulness of ICT for PWDs

In addition, access to internet and phone connection in the TechCamp can be seen in the

following figure.

Figure 21: Condition of internet connection for the respondents in these days

Also, access to mobile phone connection is remarkable in these days.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Very Useful

(47.5%)

Useful (47.5%) Normal (2.5%) No Comment

(2.5%)

Useful Persentage of ICT for PWDs

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Good (15%) Medium (65%) Bad (15%)

Internet Connection



27

Figure 22: Condition of Mobile Phone Connection for the respondents in these days

5. Respondents Views and Attitudes towards Access to ICT and Mobile Technologies among PWDs in

Myanmar

5.1. PWD’s Attitudes towards ICT

As we have stated at the beginning of this study that Myanmar has undergone political

transformation followed by social and economic changes since 2010 that allowed direct investments of

foreign telecom operators which results in easy access to mobile SIM cards and data and voice packages

even among the grassroots. As a consequence, the digital divide among the people of Myanmar has

generally reduced. PWDs who have limited mobility now have increased connectivity and be able to

interact with other people. ICT has helped them perform their works more efficiently. Some specialized

software for PWDs are created to cater the needs of PWDs and more software are now being developed.

All the respondents of the survey believe that ICT is important for all PWDs. Most of them chose to

answer that ICT is very important while some chose to answer it as somewhat important; however none of

them said ICT is not important for them. Two intellectual disabled persons and a visually impaired person

said they which to use ICT like other people. Two of the participants are not happy with their current usage

of ICT whereas another two are happy although they don’t use ICT like other people. (A total of 5 visually

impaired persons took part in the survey.)

Among the 10 hearing disable persons, one person is not happy with his/her access to ICT, 6 of

them want to use ICT like other people, and 3 of them are well without being able to use ICT like others.

Among 14 physical disable persons, 9 wants to use ICT like others, 2 persons are not happy with their

current access to ICT and 3 are happy with their current access to ICT. Among 6 paralytic polio disable

persons, 5 wants to use ICT like others, and one is not happy with his/her current access to ICT. Among 2

cerebral palsy disable persons, one is happy while another is not happy with their current access to ICT.

Cerebral palsy disable persons and hearing disable persons feel alright if they can’t use ICT like other

disable persons.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Good (32.5%) Medium (58%) Bad (2.5%)

Mobile Phone Connection



28

5.2. Review of PWD’s Attitudes towards ICT

Participants of the Tech Camp for PWDs who responded to this survey already have some level of

knowledge on ICT as the organizers of the camp made sure the participants meet the criteria. Because of

that the survey could only be conducted on PWDs who knows a bit about ICT. None of the participants is a

total stranger to ICT. Because of that, all the respondents of the survey believe that ICT is important for all

PWDs. Most of them chose to answer that ICT is very important while some chose to answer it as

somewhat important; however none of them said ICT is not important for them. The survey form

particularly asks the respondents to tell us how they personally feel about ICT.

Two intellectual disabled persons and a visually impaired person said they which to use ICT like

other people. Two of the participants are not happy with their current usage of ICT whereas another two

are happy although they don’t use ICT like other people. (A total of 5 visually impaired persons took part

in the survey.) Among the 10 hearing disable persons, one person is not happy with his/her access to ICT, 6

of them want to use ICT like other people, and 3 of them are ok without being able to use ICT like others.

Among 14 physical disable persons, 9 wants to use ICT like others, 2 persons are not happy with their

current access to ICT and 3 are happy with their current access to ICT. Among 6 paralytic polio disable

persons, 5 wants to use ICT like others, and one is not happy with his/her current access to ICT. Among 2

cerebral palsy disable persons, one is happy while another is not happy with their current access to ICT.

Cerebral palsy disable persons and hearing disable persons feel ok if they can’t use ICT like other disable

persons.

There are less people who are not happy with their access to ICT then people who are happy with

their access to ICT. However, most of the participants express their desire to use ICT more like other

people. There is also a participant who is feeling unusually disheartened because of his/her situation. The

survey also has a place for the respondents to express their feelings as “other matters” of concern that is not

covered by the questions. Apart from the “unusually disheartened” respondent, most PWDs can use ICT

like able people.

6. Conclusion

Myanmar is already the signatory of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2016).

Sub section g of the article 4 on general obligations of the convention stipulates that the “state parties of the

convention undertake” “to undertake or promote research and development of, and to promote the

availability and use of new technologies, including information and communications technologies,

mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, suitable for persons with disabilities, giving priority to

technologies at an affordable cost;”.

ISchool-Myanmar is organizing Tech Camp for PWDs and conducting this survey in order to

promote the assistive technologies suitable for PWDs and create awareness for the need of such

technologies for PWDs in Myanmar. However, as we have stated in the beginning, more comprehensive

and distributive surveys are required to determine the detail needs that will help create technological

innovations and make effective policies that will help the PWDs.



29

Article 9 of the convention on accessibility said “To enable persons with disabilities to live

independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to

ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to

transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications

technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban

and in rural areas.” And sub section g of the section 2 under the same article also urges the state parties to

“take appropriate measures to promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible

information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and

systems become accessible at minimum cost”.

This study points out that there are many technological and accessibility gaps for PDWs in

Myanmar to allow them to participate fully and independently in the society. They still can’t access ICT

and mobile technologies in affordable ways. Everyday lives of PWDs in Myanmar will be improved when

this becomes a reality.

This study portrays the trends of PWDs who are already using ICT and mobile technologies to

improve their daily lives and communications and also points out their concerns and needs. Their different

disabilities demand different ICT technologies that can facilitate their specific needs. For instance, visually

impaired people want to have screen reading software that can read out Burmese text aloud. Hearing

impaired people on the other hand can neither know when natural disaster happens, nor can they perceive

the incoming disasters like normal people can. As yet, there are no facilities in public transport systems like

buses, trains, or ships in Myanmar that informs hearing impaired people about natural disasters. And there

are no accessible routes, or other mobility assistive facilities to help physical disables. In section 7 of The

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law, 2015, the proposed National Committee for the Rights of Persons

with Disabilities is tasked with 25 clearly defined duties and responsibilities.

The study has found that the demands of the PWDs who participated in the survey are very

legitimate, practical, and necessary for their daily livelihoods and their “effective participation in society”.

We therefore strongly urge the Government of Myanmar to fulfill the needs of PWDs in corporation with

CSOs, international organizations and other relevant partners, and local and international specialists on

the issues.



30

Documents

ICT Survey PWDs - Connecting PWDs Nationwide! · 2019. 3. 15. · (2) Ye Win - He had graduated majoring in Electronic Engineering from Yangon Technological University. He is a former