ABSTRACT
In the early 1980s the first text to braille, screen reading computer entered UK classrooms when the BBC workstation was converted for use by pupils with visual impairment (Spragg 1984). Around the same time, similar developments took place in North America, using Apple II and PCs, and also in Scandinavia and other countries. Since their introduction, the choice, range and power of access technologies benefiting people with visual impairment has grown exponentially. Now 15 years later libraries can be accessed on the other side of the world, essays can be written by speaking to a personal computer, discussions may be held with others who have a shared interest regardless of where they live, and it is possible to corresponded with friends in privacy — provided they have the right software, hardware, phone lines and have bills their bills.
