The National Council for the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) supplies software and other assistive technology for vision-impaired people. Software includes Jaws, Supernova, which can accommodate print and speech, and also Zoomtext.
Simple speech synthesis and screen-reading technology has been available since the early 1980s, but has developed enormously since then. Scanners and CCTV to magnify text are also widely used.
NCBI also established the Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT) to raise importance of inclusive design in information and communications technology. CFIT will also work with firms' designers and IT experts to help them make their websites more accessible to the vision-impaired.
Studies conducted recently by the NCBI established that about 95 per cent of Irish businesses use computers in one way or another, yet just 5 per cent of websites are fully accessible.
Des Kenny, chief executive of the NCBI, says around 18 per cent of the people the organisation works with are totally blind, while the rest have "some usable vision".
He believes the ubiquitous use of technology has created a "natural bridge between the seeing world and vision-impairment".
The computer, which is "at the heart of the new age", has given vision-impaired people a huge level of access to the work and business environment and has also improved social access, he says.
"In the information society, these things provide a window on the world in a wider sense. A lot of work nowadays is conducted by e-mail and the internet and that's made eminently manageable through conventional computers with specialised software attached."
NCBI has a technology helpline, which is not restricted to users of software supplied by the organisation. If the computer "stops talking" to them, the helpline staff can talk them through to help fix it.
Kenny also draws attention to the Fás workplace adaptation grant for employers which can be used to pay for assistive technology or special equipment for an individual who is blind or vision-impaired or who has another disability.
Since 1997, there has been a technical aids grant given by government for appliances and aids. "It's in the eighth year now and somewhere in the region of €6 million in technology has been given out through the health boards."
NCBI also has a bank of volunteers available to give IT support to vision-impaired people who have problems with their computers at home. The volunteers are trained and screened by NCBI. Anyone interested in becoming an IT volunteer may contact the NCBI at 01-8307033.
Useful contacts:
National Council for the Blind In Ireland: www.ncbi.ie q NCBI technology helpline: 1850 923060
Centre for Inclusive Technology:
http://www.ncbi.ie/technology/cfit_main_page.php
Online database and resource: www.assistireland.ie
The Association for Higher Education Access and Disability is an independent, non-profit body which aims to promote full access to third-level education for students with disabilities: www.ahead.ie
National Disability Authority IT accessibility guidelines: http://www.accessit.nda.ie/