Innovative Practice 2018 on Accessibility
Easy access to news for persons with disabilities
| Name of Innovative Practice: | Easy access to news for persons with disabilities |
|---|---|
| Organisation: | BarrierBreak Solutions Private Limited |
| Country of Implementation | India |
PROBLEMS TARGETED
People with disabilities in India, as elsewhere, are often faced with challenges when it comes to listening or watching the news in an accessible format.
SOLUTION, INNOVATION, AND IMPACT
Newz Hook is a mobile news application designed to provide easy access to news for persons with hearing and visual impairments as well as intellectual disabilities. It also informs parents and special educators on innovations and information regarding the topic of disability.
The news is written in simple English and discusses such various topics as current affairs, technology, business, entertainment, sports, and health. The application supports the use of screen readers that read aloud the text displayed on a mobile phone, thus enabling the visually impaired to hear the news. The app also allows the user to have a high contrast view and to increase the size of the text, thus supporting senior citizens and people with a partial visual impairment.
To address the needs of persons with a hearing impairment, simple understandable language is used, e.g., a complex word like “infrastructure” is simplified as “roads and bridges.” Additionally, Newz Hook includes sign language videos in which a reporter interprets the news. To enhance the user experience, more features are planned to be added in future.
The news is written in simple English and discusses such various topics as current affairs, technology, business, entertainment, sports, and health. The application supports the use of screen readers that read aloud the text displayed on a mobile phone, thus enabling the visually impaired to hear the news. The app also allows the user to have a high contrast view and to increase the size of the text, thus supporting senior citizens and people with a partial visual impairment.To address the needs of persons with a hearing impairment, simple understandable language is used, e.g., a complex word like “infrastructure” is simplified as “roads and bridges.” Additionally, Newz Hook includes sign language videos in which a reporter interprets the news. To enhance the user experience, more features are planned to be added in future.
OUTLOOK, TRANSFERABILITY AND FUNDING
BarrierBreak works with a team of accessibility experts and persons with disabilities to develop their products. Approximately 70 per cent of the total staff are persons with disabilities.
The app is currently used only in India, but BarrierBreak Solutions, Ltd. is planning to expand their market and to
introduce the app in other countries by establishing local Newz Hook teams and developing local content. At present, a variety of business models are being explored to replicate the project internationally.
Currently, the Newz Hook project is fully funded by BarrierBreak. Going forward, Newz Hook aims to generate advertising-based revenues.
The app is currently used only in India, but BarrierBreak Solutions, Ltd. is planning to expand their market and to
introduce the app in other countries by establishing local Newz Hook teams and developing local content. At present, a variety of business models are being explored to replicate the project internationally.Currently, the Newz Hook project is fully funded by BarrierBreak. Going forward, Newz Hook aims to generate advertising-based revenues.
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