Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to describe current issues of e-exclusion of students with visual impairment and compares them to the set model of e-inclusion. In context with applicable law regulations within the scope of the secondary schools and universities of the Slovak Republic this paper identifies key aspects of the of the accessibility of the electronic environment. Within research conducted in 2013 we evaluated 42 high school and 14 universities for e-accessibility of their websites and electronic information systems. During the evaluation we found that, ignoring mild violations, only 18 percent of institutions had their websites in accordance with current legislation as well as with international concept of accessibility rules (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 from the W3 Consortium). Similarly on the other side 19 percent of institutions had serious deficiencies in relation to individuals with visual impairments as well as to the duties imposed by local legislation and are considered as “Not accessible”. The remaining 63 % has its accessibility moderately or severely flawed and thus might be excluding groups of visually impaired students from some of their electronic processes. Findings are also compared with official ministry reports on indicators of the level of accessibility in the Slovak Republic. In this field we point out stagnating development of e-inclusion, which in means exclusion of visually impaired students from electronic processes at high schools and universities in the Slovak Republic.

Keywords:

E-exclusion, e-inclusion, student with visual impairment, secondary school, university.