Information-Communication Resources for People with disabilities

Abstract

The paper considers the Internet as one of the most popular communicative structures that helps people with disabilities to fully communicate, give and spread thoughts and ideas, find out information intended for them in particular. It analyses the activity of different organizations that, within their programs, provide Internet access and cooperate with the authorities to optimize Internet access for people with special needs and to remove the barriers that prevent them from taking active part in social life. It is established that Ukraine does not appropriately provide access to the information at official websites for people with sight and hearing disorders. Mainly Ukrainian information-communication resources are categorized into: general informational websites (All-Ukraine Public Association “National Assembly of People with Disabilities”, Disability Information Resource Center, Scientific Association of Disabled People “Institute of Social Policy”, All-Ukraine Organization of People with Disabilities “Union of Ukrainian Organizations of People with Disabilities”, Charity Fund “Believe in Yourself”, INVAK.INFO and others); highly specialized websites: physical disabilities related to musculoskeletal system disorders (Sheinikam, Tvioshag.com, Invafishki, Ukrainian Association of People with Spinal Disabilities, Everything about cerebral palsy etc.), brain malfunctions and mental disorders (All-Ukraine Charity Organization “Down Syndrome”), hearing disorders (Kyiv Municipal Federation of Physical Culture and Sport for Deaf People, Deaf.com.ua), sight disorders (Ukrainian Association of Blind People, Kharkiv Public Association “Kharkiv Rehabilitation center for Young People with Disabilities and Their Family Members “Right of Chioce”), internal organ disorders (“Diabetes and Everything that has to do with it”, Association of Assistance to People with Disabilities and Patients with Chronic Lymphoproliterative Disorders). Cultural-sports (entertaining) websites include websites of Ukrainian Sports Federation of Deaf People and Ukrainian Football Association of People with Disabilities, Tetiana Yarymchuk’s Website, “Dating for Disabled People – Close People Nearby”, Media resources include All-Ukraine Newspaper “No Barriers”, the news site ARYS, INVAMEDIA: Mediaportal of Equal Opportunities”, “Zaklyk”. A short review of the above information resources, which help people with disabilities to get access to information and actively participate in social life, is given.