>IRS Web site plans to add talk feature
>
>Sunday February 09, 2003
>
>By Jane Pic
>
>The Internal Revenue Service has good news for people with visual
>impairments to help them retrieve information and file their taxes online
>next year.
>
>The IRS Web site will be accessible for people who use special assistive
>technology. The IRS employs 1,100 individuals who are blind or have low
>vision.
>
>A new software has been developed that will let the standard talking text
>services, used by people with low vision, read forms stored in a personal
>document
>format, or .pdf. Someone with the screen-reading software could click on the
>"talking" version of the 1040 EZ tax form on the IRS Web site, and the
>software
>will begin to read the first line of the form in electronic monotone. The
>individual then has the option to fill in the form by voice or by typing in
>the
>answer.
>
>Although not available for this tax season, the IRS hopes to have 50 of the
>most common forms in "talking" format for next tax season.
>
>Special assistance is available for people with all types of disabilities.
>If you are unable to complete your return because of a physical disability,
>you
>can obtain assistance from an IRS office or the Volunteer Income Tax
>Assistance program sponsored by the IRS.
>
>Telephone assistance for the hearing impaired is available for individuals
>with TTY equipment. The toll-free number for this service is (800) 829-4059
>and
>is available 24 hours a day.
>
>People without this equipment may be able to obtain access through the
>federal or state relay services (888) 699-6869.
>
>Braille materials for the visually impaired are available at any of the 142
>regional libraries in conjunction with the National Library Service for the
>Blind and Physically Handicapped. To locate the nearest library in your
>area, write to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
>Handicapped,
>Library of Congress at 1291 Taylor St., Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20542.
>
>For additional information on services for individuals with disabilities,
>there are several IRS publications: Tax Topic 101, Publication 910 and
>Publication
>907. Call the local IRS Taxpayer Advocate office at (504) 558-3001.
>
>Jane Pic, mother of a daughter with Down syndrome, writes about issues of
>interest to people with disabilities. Write to her at P.O. Box 9062,
>Metairie,
>LA 70055; or send e-mail to [log in to unmask]


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