EasyConverter Case Study: Kenya Union of the Blind adopt altformats with EasyConverter

Accessibility has come to Africa. In 2007, Dolphin partnered with Sightsavers International to develop the Sightsavers Dolphin Pen; affordable computer access software for visually impaired computer users in Africa and the developing world.

More recently, the field of accessibility has grown in Kenya to not only providing computer access, but also the provision of alternative format versions of learning and reading materials.

In this user story, Alex Kaluyu from Kenya Union of the Blind discusses the use of Dolphin EasyConverter to create altformats quickly and easily for students with vision impairments.

EasyConverter for altformats

Alex works in the Technology & Youth department at Kenya Union of the Blind, and comments on the progression of accessibility in Kenya to include altformat provision:

After a successful training on computer access tools, the next phase involved availing learning material in alternative formats accessible to learners with visual impairments. As such, a pilot trial of DAISY conversion of information and learning material using the Dolphin EasyConverter was undertaken.

"In Kenya, EasyConverter was launched at Kenyatta University, the only public university that admits a large population of learners with visual impairments in Kenya, during David Blunkett's (the then UK Home Secretary) visit to the country."

"EasyConverter has been a very useful tool for conversion and reproduction of information and learning material in alternative accessible formats."

"So far, a set of secondary schools and Teacher Training College textbooks have been reproduced in MP3 and digital Talking Books formats. They are currently being tested at the institutions during assistive technology trainings."

Why EasyConverter and why altformat?

Through its use in Kenya, EasyConverter has empowered students to be able to read independently in the format of their choice, and empowered teaching professionals to create altformats more accurately, faster, and more cost effectively than ever before. Alex continues to explain the many different benefits Kenya Union of the Blind have experienced in using EasyConverter:

AltFormats: Independent Access to Information

At the University, learners with visual impairments are able to borrow textbooks from the library, scan the relevant information and convert it into desire format for reference. This has lead to improved performance of learners with visual impairment."

EasyConverter: Cost and Time savings

Creating altformats using EasyConverter is not only benefiting altformat provision for students, but also empowers teaching professionals to create altformats quicker, and more cost effectively than ever.

The conversion process can be managed by one person hence reducing the cost of labour. On the other hand, the cost of producing material in accessible format for persons with visual impairments has been reduced by up to 95%. This is in comparison with the cost of producing one volume of Braille material.

"It takes several days and at times months to produce information and material ... for persons with visual impairments. This has been reduced considerably because it takes a few minutes to convert the same information into the desired alternative format. The process does not require complex processes or machinery but an ordinary computer.

MP3 Audio: Portability and Ease of Navigation

Alex continues to explain the benefits that students are finding with altformat, in particular MP3 audio and DAISY talking books:

The information and material converted into alternative formats is stored in portable media like CDs, MP3 players and in other cases the ordinary mobile phones where users with visual impairments can listen to them from anywhere. This is less bulky and portable compared to the volumes of the same material in Braille.

"Information in DAISY format is easily navigable compared to Braille because users can jump from one sentence or paragraph to another. This has reduced the time spent to read for persons with visual impairments.

What about the future?

The use of EasyConverter has already had a great impact in Kenya. Here, Alex explains how the use of EasyConverter is likely to progress in the coming months at Kenya Union of the Blind:

Owing to the successful production of subject reference textbooks and leisure reading material in digital audio with the use of the EasyConverter, plans are under way to start producing the same in large print with suitable colors schemes and font size for persons with low vision.

"With the acquisition of more EasyConverter licenses, is expected that the digital conversion units will be placed at strategic locations within the universities as well as tertiary institutions in order enhance more access to information and learning material by learners with visual impairments. The process of mainstreaming DAISY will open up diversified career training opportunities for persons with visual impairments."

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