In the “Opening Report” (2013), the Visibles Foundation points to the poor rate of website access for disabled citizens (114 state agencies). In the “Key Challenges after Poland’s Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” monograph (2012), the Experts Commission for Persons with Disabilities of the Ombudsman’s Office highlights the need to educate designers, webmasters and programmers in providing access to public information in conformity to accessibility standards.
The project purpose was to improve access to electronic information, services and tools for persons with impaired vision.
The awareness of legal obligations and technical solutions to apply vision impairment-friendly programming options was raised. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 models were widely disseminated.
Programming samples (websites, electronic forms, alternative interfaces, application installers, applications) and visualising/comment reports were drafted alongside solutions to support access code programmers, WikiDos access functional Wikipedia, and WCAG micro-learning mobile aids. Related information was uploaded to websites operated by 3 project organisations, published in the Polish IT Society’s Bulletin and „IT w Administracji” magazine (5,000 subscribers), and promoted at 7 IT conferences (Warsaw, Katowice, Lublin, Międzyzdroje – around 1,400 attendants in total), 4 lectures (Warsaw and Kielce – 81 participants in total), and 2 web-streamed training courses (87 participants). Four leaflets were printed: to promote the project (700 copies) and 3 for programmers, decision-makers and IT managers, respectively (1,600 copies in total).
Around 6,500 programmers were told of WCAG-conformant programming models.
The Institute of Mathematical Machines supported all activities with e-learning experience, and provided access to an IT laboratory for training and web streaming purposes.
Using their contacts, the Polish IT Society promoted WCAG in various communities.