Dear Sir or Madam,
The University of Siedlce is implementing a project co-financed by European Funds “UwS in Siedlce – MAXI University”. Its aim is to improve the accessibility of the University between 2019 and 2023 in terms of the needs of people with disabilities by developing, testing and implementing innovative inclusive solutions.
Course description
As part of the project, a course entitled “Information Technologies Supporting People with Visual Impairments” is being implemented. It is addressed to all employees and students of the University of Siedlce who are interested in learning about such issues as:
1. How does the lack of vision affect the ability to use modern technologies?
2. What electronic devices using touch, hearing and residual vision are available to help such people work and study?
3. How do people with visual impairments use specialist magnification and speech software on computers and mobile phones?
4. How can visually impaired and blind people be provided with access to literature and culture through electronic devices and software?
Course programme
1. Specifics of computer use by blind and partially sighted people; working with the keyboard – keyboard shortcuts, auditory-visual and auditory-tactile techniques, working without a mouse.
2. Magnification and screen-reading software for various operating systems – specifics of working with such software.
3. Access to web content – WCAG and ARIA standards and their application.
4. Specifics of working with popular programs used by blind and visually impaired people, e.g. Office suite, email clients, file explorers, etc.
5. Creating Braille documents and issues related to the correct preparation of printed text and typhlography. Available software.
6. Creating audio and video materials, audio description of films, working with sound, DAISY and ePub2 standards.
7. Programming interfaces in various programming languages to ensure accessibility of developed software for the visually impaired and blind. *
* Item 7 will be implemented if the participants of the course in a given group are computer science students or employees of the Institute of Computer Science.
Course schedule
Three editions of the course are planned, each with two groups of five participants. The course lasts six training hours (45 minutes each) in a cycle of 2 × 3 hours on the following dates:
Edition 1
Group 1:
– Meeting 1: Friday, 25 November 2022, 11:00–13:15
– Meeting 2: Friday, 2 December 2022, 11:00–13:15
Group 2:
– Meeting 1: Friday, 9 December 2022, 11:00–13:15
– Meeting 2: Friday, 16 December 2022, 11:00–13:15
Edition 2
Group 1:
– Meeting 1: Monday, 20 March 2023, 11:00–13:15
– Meeting 2: Monday, 27 March 2023, 11:00–13:15
Group 2:
– Meeting 1: Friday, 24 March 2023, 11:00–13:15
– Meeting 2: Friday, 31 March 2023, 11:00–13:15
Edition 3
Group 1:
– Meeting 1: Friday, 14 April 2023, 11:00–13:15
– Meeting 2: Friday, 21 April 2023, 11:00–13:15
Group 2:
– Meeting 1: Monday, 17 April 2023, 11:00–13:15
– Meeting 2: Monday, 24 April 2023, 11:00–13:15
The course will be conducted in the form of in-person workshops: lecture and practical exercises.
Registration for all three editions of the course is open until 30 October 2022.
The course will be conducted by Dr Dariusz Mikułowski, employee of the Institute of Computer Science of the University of Siedlce.