This paper introduces the Special Thematic Session (STS) on New Methods for Creating Accessible Material in Higher Education [1]. Inclusive education, as mandated by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, demands universities to provide accessible study conditions. However, many study materials lack accessibility especially for visual content such as graphics and there are only few universities that offer a regular literature transfer service. Therefore, most students have to create solutions themselves. It is therefore necessary to develop new standardized methods and tools that make it easier for students with visual impairments and print disabilities to access visual and STEM content of teaching material and exams e.g. by generating captions of charts, providing standardized descriptions and making graphics available tactilely.

This paper introduces the Special Thematic Session (STS) on New Methods for Creating Accessible Material in Higher Education [1]. Inclusive education, as mandated by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, demands universities to provide accessible study conditions. However, many study materials lack accessibility especially for visual content such as graphics and there are only few universities that offer a transfer service. Therefore, most students have to create solutions themselves. It is therefore necessary to develop new standardized methods that make it easier for students with visual impairments to access visual content of teaching material and exams e.g. by generating captions of charts, providing standardized descriptions and making graphics available tactilely.

This paper introduces the Special Thematic Session (STS) on New Methods for Creating Accessible Material in Higher Education [1]. Inclusive education, as mandated by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, demands universities to provide accessible study conditions. However, many study materials lack accessibility especially for visual content such as graphics and there are only few universities that offer a transfer service. Therefore, most students have to create solutions themselves. It is therefore necessary to develop new standardized methods that make it easier for students with visual impairments to access visual content of teaching material and exams e.g. by generating captions of charts, providing standardized descriptions and making graphics available tactilely.

Masaryk University has developed a web-based application1 providing practical information and specifications of university buildings which enable individuals with mobility difficulties to use the environment of the buildings effectively and without barriers. The application is a kind of virtual tour, simulating a location and composed of panoramic and static images, recommended trace lines, text descriptions and specifications with special accent on features and pieces of information which are of interest to the target group.

Blind people can now use maps located at Mapy.cz, thanks to the long-standing joint efforts of the ELSA Center at the Czech Technical University in Prague, the Teiresias Center at Masaryk University, and the company Seznam.cz. Conventional map underlays are automatically adjusted so that they could be read through touch after being printed on microcapsule paper, which opens a whole new perspective in the use of tactile maps. Users may select an area of their choice in the Czech Republic (only within its boundaries, for the time being) and also the production of tactile maps, including the preparation of the map underlays, takes no more than several minutes.

Blind people can now use maps located at Mapy.cz, thanks to the long-standing joint efforts of the ELSA Center at the Czech Technical University in Prague, the Teiresias Center at Masaryk University, and the company Seznam.cz. Conventional map underlays are automatically adjusted so that they could be read through touch after being printed on microcapsule paper, which opens a whole new perspective in the use of tactile maps. Users may select an area of their choice in the Czech Republic (only within its boundaries, for the time being) and also the production of tactile maps, including the preparation of the map underlays, takes no more than several minutes.

Hybridni kniha je typ multimedialni publikace umožňujici simultanni sledovani obsahu v textove, zvukove a obrazove podobě. Je urcena předevsim pro uživatele s těžkým zrakovým nebo sluchovým postiženim. Obsah publikace je zobrazovan jako text, jako zvukový zaznam tohoto textu a jako vizualni zaznam překladu textu do znakoveho jazyka. Format hybridni knihy umožňuje viceurovňovou navigaci zohledňujici hierarchickou strukturu publikace.

- Short introduction of technologies for preparing tactile graphics including demonstrations - Explanation of basic methods of adapting graphics for tactile perceiving - Practical production of hand-made tactile graphics with regard to the needs of blind people

Aplikace on-line pro mapovani architektonicke přistupnosti budov. Svým uživatelům nabizi zejmena tyto informace: - bezbarierový vstup do budovy — zakomponovaný jak do půdorysu samotneho objektu, tak do mapoveho podkladu nejbližsiho okoli - možnosti vertikalniho pohybu po budově (umistěni výtahů, přip. plosin ci jiných relevantnich zařizeni vcetně jejich technických specifikaci, přip. fotografii ovladacich prvků) - bezbarierove toalety — jejich umistěni, rozměry a celkova dispozice - naznaceni modelových tras — vodicich linii — k potencialně klicovým bodům (ucebny, menza, knihovna aj.)