Accessibility in virtual informational environments directed to people with visual impairments

Abstract

This qualitative documentary research had the general objective of analysing virtual information environments of institutions specialised in people with visual impairments, aiming to identify initiatives that focus on the inclusion of people with visual impairments in the virtual universe. To this end, it was necessary to carry out third-party research, that is, specific objectives: identify national and foreign institutions specialised in accessibility; identify the main technologies made available and/or developed by the institutions; identify the main services provided by the organisations; identify the main material resources produced and/or made available by the institutions; identify actions with potential for social inclusion of people with visual impairments. Applying the comparative method, the research objects used were virtual information environments belonging to institutions specialised in accessibility for people with visual impairments, at the national level the digital website of the Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind, and abroad the digital website of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. It is possible to identify services such as Dorinateca, Accessibility Solutions Division, Ask a Librarian, BARD, and Braille-on-Demand, the main resources offered by the institutions, tactile, audio, and digital technologies developed by the organisations such as the Dorina Daisy Reader and Digital Standard Player. It is possible to note that these virtual environments have the potential to provide subsidies for the inclusion of individuals with disabilities on the web, but not exclusively through it, since many of the initiatives, although proposed through the virtual environment, in practice end up being realised in the physical world.