First internet centre for visually impaired people opens in Yerevan

YEREVAN, November 21. /ARKA/. Armenian transport and communications minister Manuk Vardanian attended today the opening of an Internet center designed for blind and visually impaired people, the first in the CIS.

The Center is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Office for CIS of, UNESCO’s Institute for Information Technology, HaYPost (Armenian Postal Service) and ISOC Armenia.. The Center is located at 22, Saryan street. Overall, some $100,000 were invested in it.

The Center has 15 computers with Braille keyboards and special software which allow blind and visually impaired people to read texts in Russian, Armenian and English languages. The minister said using the Center is free. It has two employees to teach these people how to use computers and will conduct special trainings for visually impaired.

Kaoling Ziao from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said the opening of the Center in Yerevan is another proof of Armenia’s desire to develop into a world IT center showing also its attitude towards people with disabilities.

The space was provided by HayPost and the equipment by ITU. The Center will be open five days a week, expect Saturdays and Sundays.-0-

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02:00 11/22/2011