Technology

Surfing the web

Summary: How do blind and partially sighted people use the internet?

• Magnification
• Speech and braille
• Speech and magnification
• Problems with a website
• Further information

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Magnification

People with a useful amount of vision may read websites by increasing the font size in their web browser and changing the background and foreground colours to suit their preferences. Most web browsers provide these facilities.

If increasing the text in the web browser is not enough, they might use a screen magnification utility to enlarge the text and images on the computer screen. These programs can make the text and graphics much larger, and will also enlarge the menus and dialog boxes. Detailed information about these programs is available on our Using a computer with low vision page.

Speech and braille

Those with little or no vision can access the internet using speech output and refreshable braille displays. This means that the website is read out loud to the user and / or the text is displayed in braille on a device that sits underneath the keyboard. More information about screen readers and braille displays can be found on our Using a computer without vision.

Instead of a screen reader, some people may use a dedicated talking web browser like Home Page Reader. There are also low cost screen readers such as Connect Outloud, which provide speech for the internet, among other things. Freedom Box is a new product which is a task oriented set of online services offering access to email and the internet and some other services.

Speech and magnification

Other affordable products which offer speech and magnification include Guide. Providing speech and magnification and high contrast settings, it repurposes information offering easy-to-use menus to undertake different tasks, such as using the internet.

Problems with a website

If the design of a web page is such that it cannot be adjusted to make it accessible using speech or magnification, then the answer lies with the web designer. It is worth contacting them and asking if they have thought about the accessibility of their website as some designers just haven’t.

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is an international body which has created guidelines for web designers that should improve the accessibility of sites without compromising their attraction and impact. These are the guidelines that web designers should follow to ensure access to their websites by people with disabilities. The PAS 78 document supports these guidelines and is a guide to good practice in commissioning accessible websites.

RNIB works with various companies and organisations who have had their websites audited by our Web Accessibility Consultancy to gain the See it right accessible logo.

Further information

• Talking and text-only web browsers - information about available specialist web browsers
• Making your web browser more accessible - how to make the text larger in various web browsers
• Web Access Centre - learn more about website accessibility from our specialists
• Keyboard shortcuts for Internet Explorer and Netscape - navigate the internet without using a mouse
• Using the Internet – technology information sheet.

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Content author: technology@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 08/04/2008 18:38