BOIA Advocates for Improvements to Web Accessibility During Braille Literacy Awareness Month

PROVIDENCE, RI--(Marketwired - January 29, 2018) - January is Braille Literacy Awareness Month and supporting the youth living with visual impairments by consistently improving technology is a main focus of the mission. The Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BoIA) hopes to raise awareness of this important cause by educating its clients and partners as to how web accessibility can help develop braille literacy throughout all aspects of a student's life.

Recent statistics show that visually impaired students who learn Braille are more likely to finish school and find employment. Roughly 90% of employed visually impaired adults know Braille, and although 85% of blind students go to public schools, only 10% of them are literate in Braille.

Web-related assistive technology for people with visual impairments is a rapidly growing industry. People who are braille-literate often browse the Internet using a refreshable braille display. This device, made up of a rubberized strip that has pins that rise and fall to create braille characters, allows someone to "read" the information that is on the screen.

For more information on ensuring your website is compatible with refreshable braille displays and other assistive technologies, visit https://www.boia.org/blog/braille-literacy-month-ensure-accessibility-for-visually-impaired-users

About the Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BoIA):

Mobile and Web accessibility compliance is a requirement, but trying to understand the WCAG 2.0 Guidelines and how they relate to ADA, ACAA, OCR, AODA, Section 508 and other compliance requirements, can be confusing. The Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BoIA) has been helping eliminate the accessibility digital divide since 2001. The organization's reports, tools, and services have assisted businesses in improving, maintaining, and proving the accessibility of their websites. With services that include self-help tools, audits, training, remediation and implementation support, BoIA has the experience and expertise to ensure that accessibility efforts are worthwhile and successful. For more information, visit www.BoIA.org.