World Health Organization Report on Blindness

In April 2003, the WHO issued a report on the elimination of avoidable blindness. We have summarised the passages most relevant for our work. WHO facts & figures 

Hidden percentage of blind and visually impaired at least seven times higher than official figures suggest

Research in the UK (RNIB Survey:Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain, see: Volume 1, Summary and Policy Implications, Chapter 3) and in the Netherlands (Dr. K. Gorter and Drs. W. Melief: Slechtzienden en Blinden in Nederland, deel 1 en 2, 1998) suggests that the official number of registered blind and partially sighted does not reflect reality accurately. Both studies come to the conclusion that actual figures are 7 to 9 times higher than official figures suggest. The reasons for this discrepancy are

• inadequate criteria by which people are assumed to be blind or (severly) visually impaired,

• a lack of awareness of one's own sight problems and/or the availabilty of registration procedures and subsequent support measures,

• reluctance to register and be 'labelled' as blind or visually impaired.
  

Web Accessibility

"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect." (Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web)

For detailed information on guidelines and tools for making a website accessible, see http://www.w3.org/WAI/. Also check the section on web accessibility on the Royal National Institute for the Blind's website and search the database of the Centre for Research in Library and Information Management.

Special Library Access and Services

As part of its participation in the European PULMAN-project,  FORCE has devised general guidelines regarding 'Library Access and Services for Physically and Sensory/Print-Handicapped People'. Download the guidelines.