ACCESSIBILITY OF DIGITAL CULTURAL RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH SENSORY DISABILITIES

This article addresses the issue of the availability of digital cultural resources on the Internet and the acquisition of knowledge about them by people with disabilities. The use of the Internet and digital technologies have created new opportunities for acquiring knowledge by people with disabilities. It is important to ensure equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities to use Internet-based and cultural resources. The main objective is to study the accessibility of digital cultural resources located on different sites, cultural and research institutions in Bulgaria. The main features of the accessibility concept are discussed and the various prerequisites and barriers to access to digitized objects are discussed. The focus is on access to culture for people with sensory disabilities. A number of studies have been made in connection with the application of state-of-the-art technologies. The results of the projects on the issues related to the digitization and presentation of knowledge about the Bulgarian cultural heritage on the Internet and their accessibility for people with disabilities were also discussed. The reality in Bulgaria shows that a small part of the digital cultural resources, located in the sites of the Bulgarian cultural institutions, offer equal and adequate access to the cultural wealth. Web developers and digital cultural resource makers should take this into account and provide unimpeded access to Europe's digitized cultural history.