Special IT Section and Assistive Technologies (AT)

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MUST Week 2022

May 9—13, 2022

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Svatoslav Ondra, Radek Pavlíček

Overview of IT/AT presentations and workshops

• Tue, 9:00–15:30, room 107, for all groups:�General overview of IT and AT in Teiresias
• Wed, 9:00–12:00, room 107, for Sri Lankan partners: �Specific technical workshop on AT for the blind and VI
• Thu, 9:00–12:00, room 107, for Nepalese partners: �Specific technical workshop on AT for the blind and VI
• Thu, 9:00–12:00, room 106, for all groups: �Accessibility of math for the blind and VI

Outline

• assistive technologies in a nutshell, including:
• practical demo
• activities of the Special IT Section, including:
• development of our applications, practical demo
• web accessibility, practical demo
• technical management of events

Outline – possible addendum

In case of available time:

• Our practices in making remote teaching accessible �(presentation)
• Our practices in making interactive face-to-face teaching accessible for blind and VI �(presentation)

Assistive technologies in a nutshell (1/6)

• a tool, device, software or system
• usually utilizing modern technologies
• to keep and improve abilities of people with special needs, enabling e.g.:
• independent access to information
• communication among people
• independent motion and mobility
• independent control of devices, IT…

Assistive technologies in a nutshell (2/6)

1. AT typology based on target user groups:

• blind and visually impaired
• deaf/Deaf and hard of hearing
• people with mobility issues
• cognitive and learning difficulties
• people with difficulties on the production or comprehension of spoken or written language
• people with psychological disorders and other hidden disabilities
• people with chronic and acute diseases
• elderly people
• …

Assistive technologies in a nutshell (3/6)

2. AT typology based on “user-side”

• people with special needs – for their personal use
• providers of services for people with special needs
• technologies as a part of accessible design of premises

Assistive technologies in a nutshell (4/6)

3. AT typology based on technical character

• software
• hardware
• other “non-computer” devices and aids (incl. “low-tech”)

Assistive technologies in a nutshell (5/6)

Technologies developed originally for a mainstream purpose, later applied as AT, e.g.:

• OCR
• speech-to-text
• instant messaging applications
• language tools (dictionaries, proofing tools, thesauri, word prediction)
• video telephony
• artificial intelligence, machine learning, etc.

Assistive technologies in a nutshell (6/6)

More details and more links to resources

Blind student reading teacher’s review of his essay

Low-vision student reading teacher’s review of her essay

Activities of the Special IT Section of Teiresias Centre

1. Technical administering
2. Organizing of IT courses for students with special needs
3. Activities on our own development
4. Web accessibility
5. Event management (including technical support)

1. Technical administering (maintenance)

• teaching and study rooms (equipped with AT)
• adapted individual courses
• examinations
• studying work of students
• offices of staff members, network infrastructure
• audio and video studio
• technical equipment of Library and Publishing Section

2. IT/AT courses for students with special needs

• for regular students of MU with special needs
• co-tutoring of specific courses with IT as a matter of them
• IT courses for students with special needs within the Lifelong Learning programme

3. Activities on Development (alphabetically)

• Blind Friendly Maps — automatic generation of data for tactile maps
• BlindMoose — math editor for blind
• BUF — Braille conversion and typesetting system
• Daleth — Library Gateway for the Visually Impaired
• Dictio — Czech sign language and Czech language dictionary online
• DysTest — Battery of diagnostic tests of specific learning difficulties
• Hybrid Book — Documents with synchronized multimedia content
• Lambda, ChattyInfty — Math Editors for Blind (Czech localisation)
• Polygraf — Access to speech-to-text reports and content of presentation screen
• Polygraf Online — Remote interpreting of sign language and speech-to-text reporting
• Speekie — Wireless access to audio descriptions, verbal interpreting etc.
• Virtual Guide to Accessibility of Buildings

Practical demo

• Polygraf — Access to speech-to-text reports and content of presentation screen
• Polygraf Online — Remote interpreting of sign language and speech-to-text reporting
• Hybrid Book — Documents with synchronized multimedia content

Activities of the Special IT Section of Teiresias Centre

• Technical administering
• Organizing of IT courses for students with special needs
• Activities on our own development
• Web accessibility
• Event management (including technical support)

4. Web accessibility

Why is it important?

• many activities take place in digital environment
• → therefore web pages (including published documents), applications, forms, etc. must be accessible
• National Legislation + Rector’s Directive

What do we offer in general?

• consultations and (public) education in terms of accessibility of digital environment — e-learning, (web) applications etc.
• consultations and support in accessibility of applications which are matter of lessons

European Legislation on Accessibility

• EU Directive on the Accessibility of Public Sector Websites and Mobile Applications
• at EUR-Lex
• at TPGi
• Transition from the EU Legislation to the Czech Legislation
• Law on Accessibility since 04/2019 (replacement of the 10-year-old National Regulation on Accessibility)

WCAG 2.1

• The WCAG documents explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities.
• Websites must be
• perceivable
• operable
• understandable
• robust
• WCAG 21 at W3C website (WAI)

Our approach

• focus on professionalism
• focus on users – real accessibility (compliance with standards is not sufficient for us)
• team (8 people) of testers with visual impairment
• Yes or No vs. How
• Universal Design + Adjustments for the needs of particular groups of users

Consultations and public education

• web presentations in general
• muni.cz, em.muni.cz, faculties
• cooperation with other universities (Brno University of Technology, University of Pardubice, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice)
• e-learning: Moodle
• web applications
• Masaryk University Information System
• Portal IS/STAG

Other activities regarding web accessibility

• blogposts, articles
• training courses for authors cooperation with 3^rd party subject(s) because of better reach
• audits/assessments
• technical and methodological assistance to authors
• seminars, workshops, talks at conferences…

Other activities regarding (web) accessibility

• new university course called Digital Design without Barriers (since 2018)
• EU funded projects on accessibility
• EDI
• IEDA
• increased demand for our services due to the legislation

Our clients include

• Czech TV, Czech Radio
• large banks (Česká spořitelna)
• ministries (Interior, Heath, Finance)
• telco operators (Vodafone)
• regional authorities, municipalities
• libraries
• big digital agencies (Actum Digital, 602.cz)

International Association of Accessibility Professionals

• Masaryk University is the 1^st organizational member of IAAP in the Czech Republic
• Radek Pavlíček (the team lead) is – as the only Czech – a Certified Professional in Web Accessibility

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Plans for the future - project Théseus

• one-stop-shop for accessibility
• assessments, trainings, publications, talks, services (STTR, remediation, etc.)
• close collaboration with IAAP, EBU, Digital Europe, etc. on promoting accessibility in Czechia + Slovakia

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Practical demo…

…browsing a web with a desktop screen reader

recommended online resources: �TetraLogical demo videos; Freedom Sci Surf’s UP! guides

Activities of the Special IT Section of Teiresias Centre

• Technical administering
• Organizing of IT courses for students with special needs
• Activities on our own development
• Web accessibility
• Event management (including technical support)

5. Event management �(including technical and organisational support)

• ICC (International Camp on Communication & Computers for Blind and Visually Impaired Youngsters, since 2011)
• ICCHP Summer University on Math, Science and Statistics for Blind and Partially Sighted Students, 2010—2016
• ICCHP (International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs, since 2012) + ULD
• INSPO (national conference on technologies for people with special needs, since 2011)
• AGORA (conference on ICT for people with visual impairment, since 2015)

ICC (International Camp on Communication & Computers)

• for Blind and Visually Impaired Youngsters (16–21 years of age)
• 25 camps throughout Europe (2005 and 2013 – Czech Republic)
• approx. 65 participants, 10 days
• 2019 – Hereford, UK; 2020 cancelled; 2021, 2022 online
• 2023 in the Czech Republic again

ICC (International Camp on Communication & Computers)

• our roles:
• national coordinator
• participation in organization (workshops)
• technical support (since 2011)
• engagement in Association ICC (Radek Pavlíček is Deputy Chair of the ICC Board)
• website 1, website 2, photos

Seminars on Didactics

• participants are teachers and experts from schools
• approx. 20 participants
• twice a year (since 2017)
• our role:
• main organizer
• technical support
• website, photos

ICCHP and ULD

• conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs
• Universal Learning Design (ULD) Track
• approx. 300 participants
• our role:
• technical support (ICCHP)
• chairing the ULD Track
• website, photos

INSPO

• the largest Czech conference on Assistive Technologies and Accessibility
• 500+ participants, users with different types of disabilities (521 participants in 2019 :-)
• our role:
• co-organizer (main organizer 2022+)
• technical support (since 2012)
• accessibility services (massive use of Polygraf – about 60 active users)
• website, photos

AGORA

• a two-day conference focused on the ICT for the blind and partially sighted users
• since 2015
• 150+ participants, 2 days
• plenary session, exhibition area, about 40 workshops
• our role:
• main organizer
• technical support
• website 1, website 2, photos

AGORA – what is special and unique

• started as a small 4-hour-long event with 5 workshops for about 30 participants
• currently:
• plenary session for about 130 participants
• exhibition: about 11 exhibitors
• workshops: 40 during 2 days
• strong focus on the needs of end-users
• engagement of people with visual impairment - not only as participants, but as teachers, lecturers, speakers as well
• hands-on experience is crucial for us/ users
• high-level of accessibility (both of build and digital environment)

AGORA – feedback

“It was absolutely great. We really enjoyed it. It is probably the best ICT conference aimed at end-users we have ever been at and with the most enthusiastic crowd. Thank you for inviting us.”

Tanja Stevns and Lars Christensen, RoboBraille.org

“The conference was well attended and the feedback of the audience was very enthusiastic! … Many thanks for the good organization and hope to attend the next time again!”

Jan Bloem, Freedom Scientific/Vispero

“Agora achieves by focusing on persons. … I share the same convictions with Radek Pavlicek and all Agora team. Persons go first. All the rest is a consequence of a well-done work. Bravo Agora!!!”

Jaume Cunill, Tech4Freedom

Pélion

• educational website on ICT and assistive technologies for visually impaired
• very close interconnection with Agora
• launched in September 2017
• 71 000+ users so far (according to Google Analytics)
• 33+ authors (most of them are visually impaired)
• 400+ published articles
• www.portal-pelion.cz (Czech only)