Inclusion is as significant in digital as in real life. Abandoning social stigma and discrimination, creating a culture of support and socialization for people with disabilities is a long but necessary process that society must go through for its sustainable development. Digital technologies can accelerate this process. And one of the steps in this direction may be to provide free access to alternative and augmentative communication tools to all those involved in the process of socialization and recovery of people with autism spectrum disorders and various speech disorders (for example, after a stroke).
We have created Digital Inclusion in cooperation with ‘Healthy Society’, ‘Dyvogra’, ‘Huawei’ and the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
The process of creating an application tailored for users with special needs can be tough. However, we can proudly say that our team succeeded in this. Here is how we approached it:
Firstly, we collected information and requirements.
Secondly, we created a design for apps, web page and admin panel, so it is appealing and convenient to use.
Then we started working on Back-end, API, mobile and WEB versions.
The whole process from the appearance of an idea to the app itself took us two months, with every step taking about a week.
As experts say, even during the alpha-testing process, the application has demonstrated extremely high efficiency.
As for recent changes, we gathered ideas from teachers and parents which use the app to make it even more useful. We optimized user flow and added a new section called Music. This is a section where users can listen to tracks, create their own playlists and they can listen in background, and all of this in the same app.
The creation of Digital Inclusion is a prime example of how digital technologies can break down boundaries and promote inclusivity in our society. Providing free access to alternative and augmentative communication tools can greatly benefit people with autism spectrum disorders and various speech disorders. The app’s success in its initial phase has encouraged us to continue working towards perfection and making it fully inclusive.
allows users to choose 1–10 words at a time. Users can select these words by clicking on the word picture. After this, the selected word will appear as a card with a picture and text in a rectangular selection window. Each word in the selection window is announced by pressing the round button. There is a volume control for the words appearing in the selection window. Users can also delete words in the selection window using a special button. The app also includes a dictionary that consists of a universal dictionary of words available to all users and an individual dictionary of words that users can add to existing categories or create new categories and words.
displays words marked as liked in the WORDS section. Users can also create their own categories and add text and pictures to them, as well as add their own words to the created category. The app also allows users to record and store documents on their own devices.
allows users to create compositions of varying complexity to develop their creative skills and thinking. The app also includes a section to familiarize users with Ukraine’s cultural heritage and the ornaments of different times and peoples. Coloring pages are also available for users to share their creations on Facebook.
includes a variety of tracks that can be listened to online or downloaded for offline listening. In this way, Digital Inclusion provides comfort to users so that their favorite tracks are always with them. Not only can you find your favorite tracks in the section, but you can also upload them yourself. All files uploaded by the user will be stored in the Downloaded folder for easy search and viewing.
Digital Inclusion is designed to make technology more accessible to people with special needs. Three sections contribute to this goal: Words, My Kits, Creativity and Music. By providing free access to these tools, people with autism and other speech impairments would be able to better communicate with those around them. This would not only help them better engage in social situations, but it would also help in their recovery process. It could also potentially reduce the costs associated with providing traditional therapy and other forms of assistance.
Digital inclusion is a crucial aspect of creating a more inclusive society for people with disabilities. The development of the Digital Inclusion app, with its three main sections of Words, My Kits, and Creativity, can help individuals with autism and speech impairments communicate better with those around them and aid in their recovery process. By providing free access to these tools, the app can potentially reduce the costs associated with traditional therapy and other forms of assistance.
It is our hope that more initiatives like this will continue to emerge, promoting socialization, support, and inclusion for all members of society.