There is a wide variety of products that improve communication, access to information, and the movement of blind or partially visually impaired people. Next, we will talk about this issue in general and pay special attention to Text-To-Speech technology. This technology allows you to convert text into audio, but not all options are the same, therefore, we’ll recommend Woord: a Text-To-Speech that combines price and quality. Stay reading New Technologies For Inclusion and learn about this technology to incorporate into your workspace.
Products and support services for people with visual disabilities that you should take into account:
For blind people: use of a cane, use of a guide dog, audio materials, voice readers for computers, websites and digital documentation accessible to voice readers, documentation in Braille, audiovisual products with audio description, accompanying persons, guided and tactile tours, tactile models…
For people with partial visual impairment: printed material with large and highly contrasting print, websites and digital documentation with large and highly contrasting print, enlarged print devices, text readers, magnifying glasses…
Here are some tips on how to relate to a visually impaired person
Identify yourself to the person, if you are being guided, do not offer visual information.
Speak normally without raising your voice.
Always ask how you can help.
Talk directly to the person without resorting to third parties.
Do not grab his arm to direct him; as they will feel as if he is being pushed and may be confused.
Warn him about any obstacles on the way.
If he is facing a staircase, tell him if he is going up or down and place his hand on the railing.
Let him know when he arrives and when he leaves.
How does the office have to adapt to people with visual disabilities?
Due to their sensory lack, they will fundamentally require adaptations to access the office:
Adaptations of the physical environment: referring to the material changes that must be made in the office to guarantee an adequate physical integration of the visually impaired person.
Aspects to be taken into account here are, for example:
Fixed organization of the different elements and warn them in case of modification of the same.
Desk with enough space to handle the material.
Absolute knowledge of the different areas through which the visually impaired employee must navigate.
Elimination of obstacles and architectural barriers that impede accessibility.
Adequate lighting (for those with visual impairment).
Check Woord’s Text-To-Speech: Resource For Inclusion Of Visually Impaired People
Woord is our number one choice for its intuitive design when talking about accessibility and inclusion. This Saas is an excellent tool for those who do not have much experience with this type of software; if what you need is a simple and good-quality job, Woord will fulfill the task. Also, allows you to select the type of device on which you will play the audio; doing so will apply effects that will improve the quality of the MP3 file.
Since we are talking about inclusion, we must mention that this ai voice generator has female, male, and gender-neutral voice styles. Also, Woord has an SSML editor, allowing you to adjust the speed of the audio without affecting the quality. Many blind people have the ability to interpret sounds faster than average; adjusting the pace of the audio can make the process much faster for them.
Finally, we must say that in addition to the fact that the trial option is excellent, buying a pro version can be a good investment for teaching work. In this sense, Woord is also a great option for its affordable prices.
For More Inclusive Uses Of Text-To-Speech, We Recommend…
How Text-To-Speech Aids Visually Impaired Students
Make Your Restaurant More Inclusive With Text-To-Speech
Also published on Medium.