Facebook and Microsoft to Lead First-Ever Inclusive Hackathon in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya - Feb. 12, 2020 - PRLog -- On March 30, leading tech giants Facebook and Microsoft will open a 48-hour Inclusive Africa Hackathon in Nairobi – bringing local developers and coders together with disabled people to come up with accessible and innovative solutions for a range of digital projects.

The aim is to give an insight into the challenges that disabled people, living with a range of impairments, face in using technology. Each group of 'hackers' will include a disabled person, so that professionals can see first-hand the barriers and be encouraged to think more openly and creatively about how they can be overcome using digital solutions.

The event has been organised by inABLE, a nonprofit working to bring computer assistive technology to disabled students in Africa and as an advocate on their behalf for an educational policy that reflects the need for adequate support and resources. Africa's first digital accessibility Inclusive Africa Conference will run alongside the Inclusive Hackathon, and attendees to the conference will have the opportunity to visit the live event. The top three projects from the Hackathon will be presented at the Conference itself, although Hackathon participants will need to purchase a registration pass to attend the http://inclusiveafrica.org conference.

Kartik Sawhney, software engineer at Microsoft, asks:
Have you ever wondered how blind and visually impaired people work? Did you want to develop solutions that could empower them to live and work independently? Want to experience what it is like working on highly diverse teams?"  If you answered YES to any of these questions, participate in the hackathon at Inclusive Africa Conference this March.

Jesse Beach, Engineering Manager - Accessibility and Usability, Facebook, says:
The Inclusive Africa Hackathon is a place to take your ideas further and reach wider audiences. Meet experts in inclusion and accessibility development. Learn new techniques and get to know others who share your passion for building apps that everyone can use.