Chris

I wonder if you could help me? I think I might be able to help you.

I am a currently doing a Masters Degree in Disability Studies at Leeds 
University part-time. I am thinking about doing my thesis on disabled people 
and the internet. Do you have any internet site references, periodical 
articles, or book references that might help me?

I am also interested in the visual impairment issue as I know several 
 visually impaired people who find the internet not very accessible. They 
also find e-mail a bit of a struggle.  Do you have any tips?

You may be interested in the fact that Leeds University also has an RNIB 
centre you may be able to get to grips with visual impairment issues and the 
web if you speak to some of these people. I will speak to my lecturer about 
this. Perhaps we could set up something that would benefit all of us ie your 
work for your company, my thesis and most importantly visually impaired 
people using the web.

Have you sent your message to the disability-research list? This is a list 
mainly for academics studying disability. A lot of them are disabled and 
some have visual impairments. Being rather intelligent people you may find 
that some of them have come up with some novel ways of navigating the web.

Where are you based? I am in the UK. I can't tell from your e-mail address 
where you are.

I feel that I should add that I am disabled myself. I have a nervous disease 
which causes mobility and speech problems.  I got involved in disability 
very recently when I became the disabled staff rep on the Equal 
Opportunities Committee at Huddersfield University (where I work). I saw the 
MA advertised and I decided to go for it. I attend on Friday afternoon which 
is  useful as it doesn't eat into my full-time job to much.

I think we may be able to work together on this. Stay in touch.

Andrea Elliott
Leeds University Disability Studies Student (The best Disability Studies on 
earth Plug, plug)
 ----------
From: dis-forum
To: dis-forum
Subject: Internet for the visually impaired
Date: 25 March 1997 21:19


Hi everyone,
I'm an AB working for an internet publisher, primarily on sites for the
disabled or those related to rehabilitation. Until last month I was
incredibly naive when it came to the issues suurounding the disabled
(like most AB's). Wow, a couple of weeks talking to disabled persons and
reading the mail-list replies and it's surprising how things change.
One issue has caught my attention however, are there many
visually impaired subscribers to this list? How are you navigating the
web? What software or hardware is generally used?
My company (due to my suggestion) is looking to implement as full as
possible compatibility with your hardware and software, how would we go
about doing it?
Your help in this matter would be very gratefully received, all
suggestions would be helpful.

Best wishes

Chris Stowell
[log in to unmask]



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