INTERNET BEZ BARIER? OSOBY NIEWIDOME I SŁABOWIDZĄCE O SWOICH DOŚWIADCZENIACH W SIECI
INTERNET WITHOUT BARRIERS? BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE ON THE NETWORK

Summary/Abstract: Introduction: The accessibility of websites for blind and visually impaired people results frominternational regulations (ONZ, 2006) and national regulations (Act, 2019a; Act, 2019b). Pe-ople with visual disabilities are exposed to digital exclusion related to the lack of access to in-formation resulting from the maladjustment of websites as well as limited access to appropriatesoftware that facilitates the use of the Internet.Research Aim: The aim of the research was to learn the opinions of blind and visually impairedpeople regarding changes in the accessibility of websites of public and private institutions, todetermine the barriers in access to the content posted on websites and to determine the oppor-tunities offered by the Internet for blind and visually impaired people.Method: The diagnostic survey method and a tool – an original survey questionnaire wereused. 102 blind and visually impaired people took part in the research. The Kruskal-Wallis Htest as well as the Mann-Whitney U test were used in the statistical analysis.Results: The obtained results prove that there are statistically significant differences: in theassessment of the accessibility of websites of public institutions, banking and financial insti-tutions; in using a screen reader (paid, free); in the use of subsidies from PFRON funds forthe purchase of equipment/software conditioned by the level of education, degree of disability,gender and place of residence of the surveyed people.Conclusions: The accessibility of websites of public institutions has improved after the adoptionof the Accessibility Act of 2019, partly also of private institutions. Blind and visually impairedpeople encounter financial and digital barriers related to access to the Internet, some of therespondents are exposed to digital exclusion, which makes it difficult to use the opportunitiesoffered by the Internet.

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