Disabled people gain access to Australian gov't websites

Vision Australia on Thursday welcomed new federal government rules to make it easier for disabled people to get access to information on government websites as a landmark.

More than 300,000 Australians have low vision or are blind, and 17 percent of the population cannot get access to print information, according to the figures released by Vision Australia.

The new rules will require more information to be compatible with braille and synthetic voice applications as well as be accessible for people with other disabilities.

Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, said the Website Accessibility National Transition Strategy will be implemented over the next four years.

Tanner said the upgrade aims to provide fair and equitable services.

"In order to fully engage and participate with citizens, government websites must be accessible to all," he said.

Vision Australia policy and advocacy manager Michael Simpson said more information will be able to be downloaded for use with synthetic voice and braille applications.

"This will really lift availability of government information to people who are blind or have low vision, in particular, but it will also assist people that might have other disabilities - people that are using touch screens or pointer sticks," he added.

Source:Xinhua