About Vics
The Visually Impaired Computer Society of Ireland (VICS) is a voluntary organisation, providing information, training, support and advice to blind and visually
impaired individuals in the area of Information and Communications Technology.
Founded back in 1986, VICS has been fundamental to the widespread use of computer-related technology among the blind community in Ireland, and continues
to be at the forefront of developments in the assistive technology arena.
An all-island organisation, VICS is made up of over 100 members from all parts of the country, and is proud to have among its ranks some of the sharpest
minds in Irelands ICT industry. The organisation is run by a committee which is democratically elected each year at the Annual General Meeting.
The society is open to both sighted and non-sighted individuals of any skill level, from the beginner all the way through to the seasoned expert. Our membership
includes people using technology for leisure and entertainment purposes, to those in employment or education who use it on a daily basis.
VICS facilitates the sharing and exchange of experiences, opinions and knowledge in all aspects of technology for the visually impaired, and through regularly
organised events, it provides an opportunity for members to try out this technology for themselves.
The aims of the society are:
- To address the needs of visually impaired people in the area of general computer access
- To provide support to those members who are new to technology
- To encourage employers to hire visually impaired employees enabled by new and developing technology
- To promote and where possible, assist in the development of adaptive technology, and to encourage developers of new software and hardware to ensure accessibility
- To act in an advisory capacity to bodies seeking to provide access to electronic data
- To advise on ways of developing fully-accessible websites