Lattice+Dystrophy+-+Low+Vision+Challenge

LATTICE DYSTROPHY - Low Vision Challenge
 Information regarding low vision web 2.0 users, and Lattice Dystrophy. Some users cannot see the screen or read tiny print and become frustrated trying to search or find information on the Web. It is difficult for them to see instructions and, therefore, it is virtually impossible for them to join in discussions, make or use social networks and wikis.  My Mother has lattice dystrophy of the cornea, and although she uses a web tv, she cannot use a regular computer even though it has a large screen. She becomes easily frustrated and gives up on trying to find things on the web. She would like to use facebook, but cannot read the small print, and feels like she cannot participate in some discussion forums that are part of web 2.0. I understand what she is going through, because I, too, have lattice dystrophy of the cornea, but mine has not progressed to the point where I have had a cornea transplant. Mother has had 6 so far. They are not exactly the perfect answer, because the cornea can be rejected, become diseased, become latticed over again, or simply has to be removed for other medical reasons.  Computer users with low vision do have options available to them, but they are not always ideal solutions for these users. The screen can be enlarged, the print can be enlarged, the view on the screen can be enlarged, icons can be enlarged, and there is even a magnifier that can be placed over the computer screen so everything that appears on the screen is larger. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Sometimes, these things are not enough, or the user does not know about these options, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">or cannot find them on the computer because they cannot read them in the first place. When the <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">websites and print are so small, it presents challenges for a large population of people who are <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">unable to see the words that would help them navigate through a web page or website. Many <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">applications are changing the way they set up their webpages, and some, such as Facebook are <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">addressing the accessibility issues facing many web 2.0 users.