IT Foundation for the Visually Impaired

Budapest, Hungary

By donating computers, screen reader and screen magnifier software programmes to blind and partially sighted people so far our foundation has brought the world into sight for more than 1000 visually impaired persons.

Creating the Braille writing and reading in the 19th century, Braille has opened the door to independent writing and reading for visually impaired people. In our days computer technology has brought revolutionary changes for blind and partially sighted people. These days computer is an important device in study, work and everyday’s life. Our aim is to help visually impaired people with new devices and technologies.

Donation

JAWS for Windows screen reading software developed for blind people, MAGic ,Zoomtext screen magnifiers for partially sighted and Talks and Zooms reader and magnifier for mobile phones are regularly localized, donated and marketed by our foundation. In the past ten years we granted more than 1000 software licenses, almost 600 computers and 830 digital voice recorders, at the total value of 148 million HUF. So far we have given help to more than a thousand visually impaired people in Hungary.
Our foundation markets different special hardware tools – PAC Mate, portable Braille-displays, digital desktop and portable magnifier devices. In addition, we donate OmniPage software programme necessary for reading journals and books.

Education

Our foundation has an education room equipped with special devices for IT courses for blind and partially sighted, and training of teachers and librarians.
In 2008 we started our informatics club for visually impaired people where, on a monthly basis, they can attend lectures about up to date issues, like application for NASA space camp for visually impaired teenagers or new devices developed for people with low vision.

Services

Our blind help desk administrator provides IT support for visually impaired computer users every day via phone or e-mail. Visually impaired visitors can test special software programmes and hardware devices in our exhibition room.

Our foundation developed the Hungarian BeLin programme, which is a localized and accessible Linux. This programme provides, as an alternative, the possibilities of Linux for visually impaired persons free of charge.

We are working on a research project funded by the European Commission for the benefit of visually impaired people.. The objective of TACMON project is to develop a novel low-cost tactile display technology, allowing to represent Braille text as well as graphical information on an electronically refreshable tactile surface.

Our tax number is: 18171776-2-42

Our bank account number is: OTP 11714006-20403625

Contacts:

Headquarter: 1146 Budapest, Hermina u. 47. Hungary
Office: 1143 Budapest, Ida u. 7.
Post-office box: 1580 Budapest, Pf. 35.
Phone: +36-1-273-3180, +36-20-425-5224
Help desk: +36-70-295-9288
Fax: +36-1-273-3189
Email: info@infoalap.hu