Web Information for Blind People
The internet opens up numerous opportunities for the blind and visually impaired. More career options are available to them and they can access information in independent ways. As the technology of accessibility, screen readers and PDAs increases, the costs involved and the difficulty of using equipment decrease.
Other People Are Reading
-
Organizations
-
Organizations such as the American Foundation for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind link blind people to web information and more. The sites focus on resources for job listings, internet technology products, providing information about civil rights and laws regarding blind people; and the promotion of independent living and learning for the blind.
-
Web Technology
-
Optical character recognition systems speak the words on a website to people with complete vision loss. This technology uses speech systems which are available for computers running Linux or Windows Vista, XP, 98, ME or NT; and for Macs running OS X. Variations of this technology also translate text files into Braille through Braille embosser programs. People with visual impairment can use personal digital assistants (PDAs), electronic book players and video magnifiers to improve their access to web information.
Accessibility
-
Web designers use specific technology to create blind-accessible sites. For example, keeping scroll bars on the right side of the page, embedding image descriptions in html and writing descriptive text for links and fields all communicate what a website is about to blind internet users. Some technology is not blind-friendly. Asking users to type the characters that they see into a field for verification blocks many blind people from accessing a website.
Considerations
-
The cost of access assistance software and devices keeps many blind people from accessing the internet. Many sites advocate more user friendly web development so that blind people can access web information more easily, and therefore more cost effectively. Creating sites that the blind can view with any browser could simplify access assistance programs. Web programmers strive to streamline internet technology so that blind people can get web information without the use of additional software.
Online Learning
-
The American Federation for the Blind has online courses to encourage and develop skills for Braille transcribers and for those who teach or work with blind people. The Hadley School for the Blind has several online courses for blind high school and adult students. They also have numerous Abacus, access technology, guide dogs, Braille and other courses. The school designs courses for both blind people and for those who work or live with the blind.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "Fast Hands" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: laffy4k (Chris Metcalf) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
