[Faith-Talk] Technology Review With Inclusion of the Blind in Faith Communities

[ajzderad at midco.net]

Hi All,

               With the excellent accessibility technology being provided
through the Access-On hosted by Jonathan Mosen, wondering if any of our
folks have considered  summarizing and/or reformatting   selected content
with the intent of providing  it to church/congregational leadership?

               From my experience as a blind person, it is surprising how,
those who are otherwise experts in the use of audio and visual arts
technology, seem to be uninformed of, and unaware of the tools within their
tool-box of software applications which can be employed to accommodate
congregants with vision, or hearing,  loss in the life and ministry of the
church.

               The understanding is that there is/may not be anything unique
in the use of this technology for church-based application; but rather, is a
matter of repackaging the content with language that would resonate with our
congregations.  For example, speaking of making church bulletins/worship
folders  available in an accessible format, providing annual reports in
accessible Pdfs, or equivalent, providing Sunday morning worship songs/hymn
lyrics  in a form usable and concurrent along with other congregants, etc.

               This may seem to some of us to be obvious, or a given;
however, my experience over the past 20+ years has been the opposite.  Even
special education educators in our congregations seem to have a disconnect
in applying schoolroom classroom practices to the church.

               Welcome any thoughts.

Allen