UNRIC spoke with Lars Bosselmann, the Executive Director of the European Blind Union , about the role of technology in improving accessibility and efforts to secure the rights of visually impaired people . What is the estimated number of people who are blind or partially sighted in Europe? Could you explain the difference? It is estimated that over 30 million people are either blind or partially sighted in Europe, including countries outside the European Union. In general, blind people have no vision, while partially sighted people retain some vision, from light perception to the ability to see shapes, colours, or contrasts. The definitions of blindness and low vision vary across countries, which can impact these estimates. In your view, what are the biggest obstacles for visually impaired people in our society? Apart from the physical barriers, one of the most significant challenges is the accessibility of information and communication technologies. When technology is not inclusive, i...
