11 January 2007

Internet accessibility allows many disabled and visually impaired individuals access to better employment opportunities, a New Zealand council official claims.

Minnie Baragnawath, Auckland City Council's strategic disability advisor, suffers from Stargardt's disease, a condition which causes loss of central vision in both eyes.

Talking to the New Zealand Herald, she asserts that online accessibility improvements and adaptive software make "the difference between being able to work in a meaningful job or not".

"The Internet, when it is accessible, is the next biggest revolution for blind people since Braille," adds Ms Baragnawath.

Additionally, the official notes that offering more accessible work solutions would boost staff retention and offer opportunities to a wider range of individuals, including older workers.

Digital media expert Paul Grant recently wrote in WebProNews that most organisations encourage inclusive employment strategies - although many are not aware that this should be extended to Internet technologies.

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