KazNU has developed an inclusive digital platform

The Al-Farabi Kazakh National University has developed an inclusive digital platform aimed at empowering students with disabilities.

The project was implemented as part of the internship program for students from the Faculty of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence. The initiative was supported by the Department of Information Technology and the Ban Ki-moon Institute for Sustainable Development.

According to Dilara Urmanova, Director of the Pan-Gin-Moon Institute of Sustainable Development at Kazakh National University, this is the first full-fledged project of its kind in Kazakhstan, implemented with the direct participation of students with disabilities. "The unique aspect of this project is that it was created by an inclusive team of students. The project involved students with hearing, vision, and cerebral palsy impairments. A professional sign language interpreter was hired to ensure effective communication, and digital accessibility issues were developed and tested with the experience of students with disabilities in mind",- she says.

As part of the project, the participants went through a full development cycle on their own: requirements analysis, architecture design, creation of functional modules, testing of interface accessibility, and launch of the finished platform. As a result, a modern web resource was created, including news and media sections, an interactive event calendar, a blog on Sustainable Development Goals, a media gallery, and other digital services.

The inclusive digital platform developed by the students has attracted the interest of the National Scientific Center for the Development of Social Protection. The Center is considering the possibilities of further development of the project, as well as its application as a basis for the formation of inclusive digital solutions in the field of social protection, professional development, and increasing the accessibility of information for various categories of citizens.

Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University