Defying the odds!
Jamaican with congenital rubella syndrome gives stellar presentation at UNESCO conference on artificial intelligence
The phrase “overcoming the odds” is an understatement for 24-yearold Joshua Burgess.
Though born with congenital rubella syndrome, which has caused him to suffer from a number of health challenges over the years, he continues to break barriers.
On September 28, Burgess participated in the prestigious UNESCO Information for All Programme’s (IFAP) Second Artificial Intelligence for Information Accessibility (AI4IA) Conference, where he spoke about ‘Openness and Inclusivity for the Disabled Community in a New Era’.
“My presentation reflected my views as a young, blind
Jamaican also living with chronic hearing loss. It was important for me to note that, while I have benefited from artificial intelligence’s (AI) ability to help me integrate into society, it is also important for us to recognise that it is not a one-size-fits-all. We must collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure openness, inclusivity, fairness, and accessibility for everyone,” said Burgess.
His presentation specifically focused on the value and importance of artificial intelligence for disabled people, specifically the blind, and some of the Ai-powered tools that facilitate independent living.
He also spoke about the bias and ethical concerns in the development of artificial intelligence technologies and how that intersects with data collection, privacy, and the risk of marginalisation. He shared, too, the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach for increased inclusiveness in developing a framework for AI in the Caribbean.
Joshua was born with congenital rubella syndrome, which resulted in a number of complications, including microcephaly, chronic hearing loss, and visual impairment. He has had roughly 18 surgical procedures before the age of two to correct a variety of eye-related issues. He eventually lost his eyesight completely at the age of 15, which