Takashi Miyake
Director, the Japan Association of People with Visual Impairments

Digitalized devices and services are rapidly entering our lives, while more and more people are benefiting from their convenience and efficiency. The visually impaired are no exception. With the progress of digitalization, the issues that have been problematic until now may be solved, their lives may be improved, and their social participation may be further promoted. These benefits are being greatly anticipated.

With the Corona disaster that has continued since last year, digitalization seems to be progressing further, and it is also affecting the social participation of the visually impaired.

In a new lifestyle that encourages people to refrain from going out as well as to avoid the so-called "Three Cs[1]," people with visual impairments participate in events using online conference tools, interact with friends, and participate in various conferences.  There are various online conferencing tools, with properly assigned shortcut keys for each function. Also Zoom, which is easy to use even with a screen reader, is often used by the visually impaired.

People with visual impairments can check if their voice can reach people who are sharing the same screen, and can also adjust the distance of the camera by telling people how they and their surroundings look to the people who are being spoken to. Thus, people with visual impairments can use online conferencing tools conveniently by exploring different ways to use them easily and then, sharing the usage with others. In addition, by using these tools, one can participate without moving to and from the venue, which makes it easy for people with visual impairments who have experienced the difficulties associated with moving.

Reading methods for the visually impaired are also diversifying. In addition to conventional paper Braille and enlarged characters and cassette tape audio recording books, there are Braille data and text data, audio recording books in DAISY format, accessible PDFs, and electronically published books that can be used with screen readers. In particular, the accessibility of e-books compatible with screen readers are expected in the future because the contents of the books will be known at approximately the same time as they hit the open market.

In addition to applying directly to the library and having materials sent by mail, which is still being done, the visually impaired can use Braille and voice-recorded books from the library by accessing an electronic library (Sapie Library and  the National Diet Library data transmission service for the visually impaired, etc.) where Braille and voice-recorded books are stored.

However, the progress of digitalization does not always benefit the visually impaired.

There are an increasing number of administrative procedures, cash register payments, meal ticket purchases and orders at restaurants, lockers, etc. that require touch-pad operation. However, these devices have not been designed or installed with the visually impaired in mind. Because of this fact, the benefits from the convenience of these devices cannot be taken advantage of. In addition, some "unmanned stores" have only such non-accessible terminals, and due to this reality, digitalization is making the lives of the visually impaired quite difficult at times.

Also, in the workplace, there are some situations where people with visual impairments are left behind due to digitalization. These people may not be able to perform their duties in the same way because the corporate network or system does not support screen readers. There is also a shortage of capable personnel who can give advice on such issues, and it is essential to provide public assistance to improve the environment in which people with visual impairments can work comfortably in the workplace. Methods to develop and dispatch human resources to improve their environment must also be considered.

Our country will set up a Digital Agency to realize a digital society where no one is left behind. In the future, instead of having discussions with people without disabilities, we need to set up a department within the agency that specializes in working on this issue. This includes hiring ICT-savvy persons with disabilities and eliminating people with visual impairments from being left behind by digitization. This kind of system is strongly urged.