Tiresias.org Information resource for people working in the field of visual disabilities

Abstract

Tiresias.org is a website set up by the RNIB Scientific Research Unit (SRU) to provide information and resources for people working in the field of visual disabilities, but the site and its linked publications offer much that is of use to a wide range of users. A glance at the What’s New listing for 2007 shows resources as varied as web accessibility guidelines, e-voting, international ICT accessibility standards and involving people with disabilities in the standardisation process. The latter is an excellent document and contains much to ponder. Much of the content on tiresias.org has evolved from the Cost219ter European project, which was concerned with increasing the accessibility of future and developing network services and equipment to the elderly and those with disabilities. This means that, although the site focuses mainly on visual difficulties, there is much more here as well. For example, under Guidelines it is possible to search under headings such as ‘hearing impaired’, ‘physically impaired’ or ‘older people’. Searching on ‘cognitively impaired’ leads to further information under headings such as ‘dyslexia’, ‘learning disabilities’, ‘language disabilities’ and ‘dementia’. Following each of these headings leads to well-written and clear information and statistics, as well as a wide range of links to organisations offering further information. The Cost219ter site is still available at www. tiresias.org/cost219ter/index.html, and this is another example of the ways in which this site is continuing to disseminate valuable information. Tiresias.org is not just an information and link directory however; there is much here in the form of publications that can be downloaded in PDF or other formats, and at no cost. Among many recent publications are: l Making Life Easier – how new telecommunication services could benefit people with disabilities l Equal Measures – closing the accessibility gap l Involving People with Disabilities in the Standardisation Process l an international list of organisations that assess technology for disabled and older people.