ICT-related skills and needs of blind and visually impaired people

This study focuses on the relationship between the ICT-related training offered to blind and visually impaired people and their actual, self-reported and demonstrated, competencies for online activities and information processing. The findings of the study can shed light on how people with severe visual disabilities are prepared to access the web for educational, institutional and social participation. The study also gives insight in the validity of instruments to measure ICT-linked skills for the target group and creates an empirical foundation for improvements of ICT-related training. The first phase of the study investigated how blind and visually impaired people perceive their participation in society through ICT. An extensive interview showed how this audience perceives the frequency and quality of their Internet use (or absence thereof) and how they acquired these skills.