The Papunet web service unit promotes accessible and equitable communication.

The unit develops and produces accessible web services for people with speech impairments or intellectual disabilities, users of plain language, their families and other people they interact with, as well as professionals and students in the field.

The unit produces the Papunet website and technically maintains various websites of operators in the field and the Verneri website on intellectual disabilities. The unit also offers training and consultation on accessible web services and performs accessibility assessments of websites from the perspective of people with speech impairments and users of plain language.

The focal areas of the unit’s work on developing web services are user participation and user-centered design.

Papunet Web Service Unit (www.papunet.net)

Papunet website

Papunet is a website on speech impairments and plain language.

The site is especially aimed at people who have difficulties with producing or understanding speech or using the computer and users of plain language, their families and other people they interact with, as well as professionals and students in the field.

The website is an extensive and focused collection of information related to the field, but it is also an accessible functional environment for people who communicate or use the computer in different ways.

The Papunet game, symbol, bliss and plain language pages contain information, stories and exercises, interesting activities and opportunities for self-expression. The pages are suited for both recreation and rehabilitation and teaching that practices interactive skills, augmentative and alternative communication or the use of computer.

The Papunet standard language pages provide information on interaction, augmentative and alternative communication, different means of communication, communication aids, programs and interpreter services for people with speech impairments. The pages offer ideas and a variety of material, such as an extensive image bank and an image tool. The pages also serve as a channel for discussion and obtaining information on training in the field and other timely issues.

The Papunet website includes material in Finnish, Swedish and English. The standard and plain language pages and game pages have been realized in Swedish, the game pages in English.

Papunet website (www.papunet.net)

Papunet website in English (www.papunet.net)

Contact information

FAIDD (Kehitysvammaliitto ry)
Papunet Web Service Unit
Viljatie 4 A
FI-00700 Helsinki
Finland

tel. +358 9 348 090
papunet(at)kvl.fi

Updated October 8, 2009.