# Can Blind People use the Internet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blind-people-use-the-internet/163755 "2003-03-24T11:13:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blind-people-use-the-internet/163755/1 "2003-03-24T11:13:18Z")
The question is pretty self-explanatory, I guess. Is there any kind of program that will translate the text-based internet into something a blind person could utilize? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blind-people-use-the-internet/163755/2 "2003-03-24T11:17:32Z")
Yes ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blind-people-use-the-internet/163755/3 "2003-03-24T11:42:39Z")
Sure, there’s a bunch. [Here’s one now.](http://www-3.ibm.com/able/hpr.html). Just run a search for blind and browser. As a programmer and sometimes web page creator, it’s important to keep these users in mind, (even more so if you’re in charge of a government web site, where it’s probably mandated). Always use the alt= in your img and map tags, and don’t be a dink with javascript and flash stuff. As a general rule, if you can browse your site in [lynx](http://www.trill-home.com/lynx.html), nobody should be having any problems with it. ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blind-people-use-the-internet/163755/4 "2003-03-24T11:42:58Z")
There’s a blind person here that I support. He uses JAWS screenreader and a braille reader. This seems to work OK; he can use email and browse websites. If you want a cheaper, and more text based solution, have a look at (or read, as the case may be) [BLinux](http://leb.net/blinux/). ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blind-people-use-the-internet/163755/5 "2003-03-24T11:50:36Z")
Thanks guys! ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blind-people-use-the-internet/163755/6 "2003-03-24T13:21:07Z")
Can and do, most use Jaws, an incredibly expensive software. I play a text based roleplay game (like Everquest without the graphics) and we have a number of blind players, the only reason I know is because they told me. There are also various news-groups for blind computer users. If anyone reading this has a webpage or three, have a look into how accessibiliy issues relate. There are some small things you can do that can make a big difference to users with screen readers. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blind-people-use-the-internet/163755/7 "2003-03-24T15:34:58Z")
Accessibility to the web is a hot topic among the blind, and rightly so, as it is feared that they will get left behind as more and more modern day life goes online with websites constructed without any thought to their needs. The RNIB have [some good pages on the matter](http://www.rnib.org.uk/digital/). Chief culprits are smart-alec flash-enabled websites. Does **anyone** like these? It’s ok having the occasional fun page of flash. But when the main front page relies on, or is overburdened with, flash, it’s a complete pain, not just for the blind but for those with limited sight, low capicity access or basic monitors.