Remote Banking Services for the Visually Impaired in Britain as a Tool for Creating Barrier-Free Environment

Abstract

The paper analyses remote banking services in Britain as far as the visually impaired
people’s work with them is concerned. Most of the websites have a minimum level of
accessibility for these people, especially the sites of the banks with foreign capital.
Large banks with a great number of branches, on the contrary, provide full access to
banking services on their websites. The paper discusses the world experience of the
banking system in providing the disabled people with an opportunity to actively
participate in all spheres of society by creating a barrier-free environment with the
introduction of innovative products and electronic means of communication. Apart
from the implementation of social protection mechanisms, the benefits obtained by
the banks fully compensate for the costs incurred. The information in the paper is of
practical interest for experts in sociology of disability, as well as for public organizations
helping disabled people.