Projects for visually impaired individuals continue to develop in the fields of education, transportation, digital accessibility, social life, and independent mobility. Thanks to collaborations between public institutions, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations, many of the barriers faced by visually impaired individuals in daily life are being reduced.
What Are the Most Important Project Areas for the Visually Impaired?
Public and private companies, either in collaboration with non-governmental organizations or independently, develop various projects targeting visually impaired individuals. Institutions carry out these efforts within the scope of corporate social responsibility projects to benefit individuals. Among these projects, technology-focused initiatives stand out. In this article, we will explore important technologies designed for visually impaired individuals.
What Technological Projects Are Being Developed for the Visually Impaired?
Technology-focused projects designed for blind individuals are shaped according to their needs. For example, the smart cane has been developed to support independent living for visually impaired individuals. It detects obstacles at chest and head level and provides feedback to the user through sound or vibration.
Easy access to desired locations is also one of the most important needs of visually impaired individuals. To address this need, voice-based navigation solutions are being developed. For example, in our country, the Ministry of Family and Social Services offers a special navigation application for disabled individuals under the “Gören Göz” application package, which can be used on Android smartphones.
In addition to existing efforts, different companies are also working on various wearable devices such as smart glasses and wristbands that could make life easier for visually impaired individuals. However, these solutions have not yet become final products. On the other hand, application developers can develop accessibility-focused applications for existing smart glasses and make them available for use.
What Are AI-Powered Projects for the Visually Impaired?
Many startups and companies are developing AI-powered accessibility applications for visually impaired individuals. These applications include capabilities such as visual and text recognition and voice guidance. In detail:
AI-powered web accessibility solutions: These solutions are mostly preferred as B2B services by companies. They add alternative text to images on websites, make menu navigation accessible, and enhance the screen reader experience.
Voice applications: Virtual assistants such as Google Assistant and Apple Siri allow visually impaired users to perform tasks like sending messages or making calls with simple voice commands. Applications like Google Maps and Apple Maps also provide useful experiences through voice navigation features.
Image recognition technologies: Visually impaired users using screen readers cannot access books that are not converted into OCR format. Similarly, they cannot understand images sent to them without a description. For such cases, OCR and image recognition applications are widely used. OCR tools make PDF text readable by screen readers, while image description tools convert visuals into detailed text.
Mobile accessibility solutions: Visually impaired users can access mobile content using screen readers. Mobile apps and websites for Android and iOS must comply with WCAG standards so screen readers can properly vocalize content.
What Educational Projects Are Being Implemented for the Visually Impaired?
Visually impaired individuals first learn Braille when starting school and develop reading and writing skills through it. Over time, different educational methods are introduced depending on needs.
In our country, the Ministry of National Education (MEB) provides accessible educational materials, including subjects like mathematics, for visually impaired students at different levels. Teachers can obtain these materials upon request. Additionally, Braille publishers and specialized organizations prepare accessible educational games, Braille picture books, and storybooks.
Audio books are one of the most important learning tools for visually impaired individuals. Through audio libraries, they can access thousands of resources including textbooks, novels, stories, and exam preparation materials. In Turkey, institutions such as the National Library, Boğaziçi University, and others provide audio library services.
Digital education platforms have also made access to learning content easier. YouTube, in particular, offers a wide variety of educational videos, reducing the need for manual note-taking. NGOs and private institutions also support visually impaired individuals with live exam preparation courses.
What Early Childhood Education Projects Exist for Visually Impaired Individuals?
In early childhood education, special education preschools and kindergarten programs are common. Recently, inclusion practices have been introduced in both special and mainstream schools to help visually impaired children interact with their peers.
Early awareness of skills, behaviors, and abilities is very important. Teachers conduct one-on-one activities to better understand each visually impaired student.
In kindergarten education, tactile learning tools allow children to explore objects and artworks through touch. With the development of 3D printing, the availability of tactile learning materials is expected to increase.
What Are Social Responsibility Projects for the Visually Impaired?
Universities, public institutions, and NGOs carry out many social responsibility projects for visually impaired individuals. These include awareness campaigns and volunteer initiatives:
Social activities: Events that bring visually impaired individuals together with their communities or non-disabled individuals.
Volunteer projects: Activities where volunteers support events or contribute to audio book reading projects.
Awareness campaigns: Projects aimed at increasing public awareness about visually impaired individuals through NGOs and educational institutions.
What Are Examples of Events for the Visually Impaired?
Many social integration projects are organized to increase visibility and confidence among visually impaired individuals. Events such as the White Cane Festival and the Barrier-Free Life Fair are among these. NGOs, skilled individuals in various fields, and university disability units set up stands and participate.
Universities also organize similar events with internal and external partners. However, accessibility planning is crucial. Lack of guiding tactile paths or assistants in such events can be considered planning deficiencies. Working with experienced professionals is important.
What Are Accessible City Projects for the Visually Impaired?
One of the most important efforts for social inclusion is enabling independent movement in cities. Local and central authorities implement various projects:
Tactile paving surfaces: Also known as yellow lines, these guiding paths are placed on sidewalks, crossings, metro stations, and other areas. They can be detected with a white cane or by foot and help users move safely. They are also used indoors in places such as banks and institutions.
Traffic lights: Audio-enabled traffic lights inform users when it is safe to cross and when they should wait.
Accessible sidewalks: Accessibility depends not only on tactile paths but also on sufficient sidewalk width, proper placement of obstacles, and safety barriers near building entrances.
What Projects Are Being Implemented for the Visually Impaired in Transportation?
Public transport accessibility continues to improve. While mobile applications provide guidance, comprehensive solutions from local authorities are still essential.
Audio guidance systems are widely used in buses, metros, and metrobus systems. These systems announce the next stop and vehicle direction. External speakers also announce vehicle numbers at stops.
Smart stop systems are widely used in railway networks. Arrival times for trains and metros can be tracked via mobile applications. Additionally, estimated arrival intervals for buses and trams are displayed at stops.
Be Fully Inclusive with WeAccess
With AI support, WeAccess products help visually impaired individuals continue their lives more easily in all areas.
