Blind Eileen Scrivani, an avid knitter, expressed concern that Dynamic Resource Group’s (D.R.G), U.S.A, website ‘FreePatterns.com’ was inaccessible to visually impaired people. As a result, the company researched on accessibility and made the necessary technological changes. Now, all its free patterns are tagged to enable screen readers to translate them into audio format.

Computer technology allows for the conversion of information on a computer screen into either audio or Braille format.

“I realized what a difference it could make if we upgraded the patterns to a version that allowed for text tagging,” said Marylee Klinkhammer, web developer and internet services manager, D.R.G.

The site FreePatterns.com provides patterns in knit, crochet, paper crafting, quilting, sewing, tatting, plastic canvas, woodworking and general crafts. The new accessible features became available from February 6, 2006.

D.R.G is involved in publishing of books, magazines and pattern booklets.