Web accessibility for blind and low-vision people allows them to access the information that exists on the Web freely. New and advanced technologies have made available different ways for the blind and visually impaired to facilitate navigation and use computers, smartphones, and other devices to consult websites to access information. As is the case of screen readers, navigation by voice, keyboard, or use of switches enables these people to access digital content optimally.
But is it enough for the people of this community to actively participate in the virtual world? Are they taking full advantage of the Internet like the sighted world?
Well, the answer is ‘No.’ Currently, over a thousand blind and low-vision non-profits and organizations across the US, most of which do not have an online presence crucial for their inclusion, hampering them from leveraging the power of the Internet.
So what’s the solution? How can we overcome this challenge?
Let’s find out!
Although assistive technology has made it possible for the blind and visually impaired to access online information, they can only carry out up to a part of the activities that a sighted person can do through such technological devices. A blind person using a screen reader can access one screen at a time, challenging data analysis, whereas a sighted person can look at several items simultaneously.
Likewise, many non-profits are working for the blind and visually impaired, but they appear to be struggling with their online presence. It appears, assistance is needed to grow their online presence, which is crucial to their survival and growth.
Let’s take the example of a highway system.
What do you think is the role and importance of a highway in a country?
Like a highway is a “paved road” that interconnects major cities, we need to create an online structure connecting the blind and visually impaired with the sighted world.
A road network increases the ability to travel, facilitates the transport of raw materials and final products to consumers, supports the creation of infrastructure, and plays an essential role in the development and job creation.
Indeed, they act as the backbone of a country’s economic growth and development because they open the doors to an inaccessible society. It is imperative for the advancement and growth of the state and the people who live there.
Imagine a city with no road system to other cities.
Likewise, if we connect the blind and visually impaired world with the sighted, we can make a huge difference in enabling them to communicate with the world as active participants truly.
Now imagine the same for the rural areas and populations furthest away from the main cities. How would it affect the disadvantaged people if there were no highways?
Research indicates that the underdevelopment of any region is mainly due to the lack of highways and roads connecting cities and towns. The absence of roads limits their access to health care and education and represents a setback in all sectors.
Indeed, communication and transport are the two main pillars of society. In the least developed sectors, the lack of these two pillars causes significant setbacks in the development of humanity.
Like a city’s connectivity to other regions is of great importance both for the quality of life of citizens and for economic activities, connecting the B&VI online with the sighted world is also compulsory for the survival of people of this community.
The solution is to create an online structure connecting the B&VI with the sighted world online. One of the goals should be to make the B&VI community target consumers of society, just like the sighted people are, with equal job opportunities, education, and access to the Internet, the web, advertisements and social networks.
In addition, like any organization, non-profits have a target audience and strategic goals. The audience can range from the press to donors to the people served, and goals can be things like spreading awareness, increasing donations, or recruiting members-all of this to improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries. Technology is here to stay; every organization needs an online presence.
Through an online presence, B&VI non-profits can capture the public’s attention, gain confidence, and diversify their funding sources with hundreds or thousands of donors.
Undoubtedly, over the years, work has been done to make assistive technology a reality to enable the B&VI to access information. Simple and concrete solutions have been implemented in different areas to access information and overcome the challenge of using the Internet. But the most crucial axis of communication is undoubtedly the relational axis, the human approach.
Indeed, without the relational dimension, all of the accessibility work provided upstream is useless. Therefore, this line of communication is inseparable from any approach to accessibility.
The B&VI world needs assistance from the sighted to access and process the information optimally and participate equally in the digital world. And for this, the sighted must make themselves accessible to blind and visually impaired people, address their needs, and help them achieve their goals.
Nevertheless, a major and recurring problem is that the sighted are unaware of the challenges and needs of the B&VI community. The solution to this problem is spreading awareness and knowledge among the sighted through educational programs and documentaries so they can understand the challenges fully. Thereby together, the two worlds make a difference.
There’s a need for an online structure where the B&VI can connect with the sighted and seek assistance to better access the online content, process it, and benefit from it. Similarly, through assistance, B&VI non-profits can gain online visibility and achieve their strategic goals.
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