We’re a nonprofit that empowers communities with software for social good.

Our work transforms how people with disabilities read and learn, makes it safer for human rights defenders to pursue truth and justice, and connects people to the services they need to live and prosper. We’re constantly pursuing the next big social impact.

Our mission is to empower communities with software for social good. We achieve our mission by uniting two worlds: the social sector and Silicon Valley. We serve as a bridge between the social sector and Silicon Valley by working closely with both communities to identify needs and software solutions that can drive positive social change.

Read more: https://benetech.org/about/

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Benetech will provide accessible educational materials globally through our Bookshareplatform and forge the future of accessible publishing through our Born Accessible initiative. We will provide tools and expertise within the Digital Literacy Trust (DLT), a public-private partnership in Kenya, who commits to making accessible, Kenyan early-grade reading materials available in the Global Digital Library for use in Kenyan schools to support inclusive and quality education.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan 
In 2018-19 Benetech will expand its global footprint with free libraries in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan, in addition to our existing footprint in India. We will deepen partnerships within Africa, Europe, and the Middle East to reach students with disabilities with local, accessible educational materials. With DLT we will help deliver 50 quality early-grade reading books, adapted in digital form for learners with disabilities, to NORAD’s Global Digital Library.

Theme: Inclusive Education
Year: 2018
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Commit resources to support strengthened disability data
We will research and develop tools to dramatically strengthen and increase available data representing the lived experiences of people with disabilities, in conjunction with global partners including Sightsavers and Leonard Cheshire, and in direct relationship with DPO’s and individuals with disabilities.  Data collected may be disaggregated using the Washington Group questions and rolled up for reporting under the CRPD, the SDG’s, and/or for defining and improving development programs for people with disabilities.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan
Benetech will work with global partners and local DPO’s in 2018 and 2019 to assess needs and design innovative, accessible technology solutions for data capture and collaboration, focused particularly on education and economic empowerment. From 2019 onward, we will develop and implement such tools that prove to be highly valuable within multiple target countries, measuring effectiveness under rigorous standards.

Theme: Data Disaggregation
Year: 2018