7. Accessibility for People with Disabilities 7. Accessibility for People with Disabilities
lmost 10 percent of the world’s population—650 million people—live with some type of disability.1 A disability is any physical, sensory, or cognitive impairment that makes daily Aactivities more difficult. Many people are born with a disability. Oth- ers acquire a disability later in life, from an accident, an illness, or the aging process. Many older individuals are diagnosed with chron- ic conditions that lead to functional or cognitive disabilities. In the United States, for example, about 15 percent of people over the age of 65 require some form of assistance with their basic daily activities.2 For much of history, many people with disabilities have had
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to rely on technologies that were designed for the faces, and accessible communication tools. nondisabled community. Even technology specifi- In the medical arena, researchers have designed cally designed for people with disabilities—such as IT-enabled devices for people with disabilities that Braille text for people with a visual impairment or radically increase their functional capabilities, in- text telephones (TTY) for people with a hearing cluding improved hearing for individuals with hear- disability—could require a high learning curve, be ing disabilities and improved vision for people with
Information is no longer constrained to a single medium. Instead, IT has created a world where users can choose the format in which they want to consume information.
limited in availability, or have a high cost because of visual disabilities. (For more information, see Chap- its specialized nature. ter 5: Health Care.) In addition, IT provides people Recently, however, the shift from analog tech- with disabilities with many new tools to use to assist nology to digital technology has eliminated many them in their daily lives. of these barriers. The reason is simple: digital infor- IT helps individuals lead independent lives while mation can easily be converted into voice, text, or minimizing the risks associated with solitude. Cur- even physical patterns (e.g., Braille), allowing the rently, for example, older adults and individuals with development of many more low-cost, readily avail- disabilities can use a personal emergency response able general purpose devices that also can be used by system so that with the push of a button they can people with disabilities. call for medical assistance. Personal emergency re- The digital era has led to many advances in tech- sponse devices typically consist of two components: nology that have directly improved the quality of a wearable wireless transmitter and a telephone unit life for the disabled community. As discussed below, that connects to an emergency response center. Such technology that improves accessibility for people devices can particularly help adults who are at risk of with disabilities generally falls into three categories: a stroke or falling live independently. They can also • assistive technology (technology designed spe- save money by reducing the length of time for inpa- cifically to improve a disabled person’s func- tient hospital care or nursing home care.3 tional capabilities) Monitoring individuals with personal emer- • adaptive technology (technology that provides gency response devices could cost as little as $50 a mechanism that allows people with disabili- per month—a drop in the bucket compared with ties to use technology that would otherwise be the costs of inpatient care. Although such technol- inaccessible to them) ogy is not currently widespread, a recent study by • accessible technology (technology that has AARP found that most older adults were willing to many broad applications but helps remove use high-tech safety devices at home. Furthermore, barriers and make the world more accessible the technological possibilities are growing fast as for people with disabilities) emergency alert systems for elderly and disabled in- dividuals such as these prove their worth. “Memory bracelets” that vibrate when it’s time for the wearer Assistive Technology to take medicine or go to a doctor’s appointment, for example, have been developed by Intel. Intel has also Assistive technology for individuals with disabilities created sensor-infused carpets, or “magic carpets,” is technology designed to improve the functional that measure gait and notify medical officials in the capabilities of such individuals. It includes a wide event of a fall.4 range of devices and services, including IT-enabled Technology also offers much hope for helping chil- prosthetics and implants, custom computer inter- dren with developmental disabilities. Autistic chil-
50 7. Accessibility for People with Disabilities dren, for example, often lack verbal communication computer output accessible for visually impaired skills and instead rely on nonverbal communication users. In Pensacola, Florida, Publishers Circulation techniques such as pointing or leading. Unfortunate- Fulfillment’s call center uses an application that in- ly, researchers report that the nonverbal communica- terfaces with call centers and lets agents with visual tion techniques they use may be considered “inap- disabilities hear computer-driven data.8 Tactile dis- propriate (e.g., guiding a stranger’s hand)”5 or, even plays can convert electronic text on a computer or when considered socially acceptable, may “result in other similar device to Braille. Similarly, the U.S. frequent communicative breakdowns.” To avoid this National Institute of Standards and Technology problem, autistic children can learn to communicate (NIST) has created a tactile graphic display for read- their needs by using a voice-output communication ers with visual disabilities. The tactile display raises aid (VOCA). A VOCA is a handheld electronic de- and lowers a series of small pins that adjust to cre- vice that produces prerecorded audio messages at the ate patterns based on an image; since the pins adjust press of a button. Thus, it improves communication automatically, individuals can use the display to feel and reduces the frustration children feel when they multiple images in quick succession.9 cannot communicate.6 Some technology developers have adapted hand- Technology can also provide opportunities for held personal computers (PCs) for use by visually social interaction and education—something that impaired users. Using add-on peripherals such as a adults and children with disabilities too often miss Braille display or voice synthesizer for output, us- out on. In the United States and Canada, for ex- ers can customize their personal digital assistants ample, the PEBBLES Project has developed a tech- (PDAs) for their needs. Thus, for example, a user nology solution to address the educational and social with a visual disability can equip his or her PDA with needs of the more than half a million children who an optional bar code reader to electronically identify require long-term hospital care. Using two child- objects in a store. Once radio-frequency identifica- sized robots—one in the hospital and one in the tion (RFID) tags become widely used for individual classroom—linked by a high-speed Internet connec- consumer items, identifying consumer goods will be tion, a hospitalized child can participate in classroom even easier for such shoppers. Engineers have even learning and interactions. The robots can transmit developed an improved version of the classic magni- audio, video, and text and even have a robotic hand fying glass: a portable video device that can magnify to get attention, giving these children a complete objects, make light print darker, and increase the telepresence in their regular classroom. They are also contrast between lettering and the background.10 mobile, allowing student-to-student interactions to Digital technology is also empowering people take place outside the classroom in places such as the with visual disabilities by providing them with much hallway or lunchroom.7 more information when they are outside their home. A technology combining a global positioning system (GPS) with an accessible PDA, for example, enables Adaptive Technology users with visual disabilities to navigate and orient themselves, even in unfamiliar settings. With this Adaptive technology is technology that provides a technology, the PDA issues voice prompts, telling mechanism that allows people with disabilities to the person where he or she is and how to get to their use technology that would otherwise be inaccessible destination (e.g., “turn right”). In addition, users of to them. Because it makes information accessible in this technology can connect to databases containing more ways and formats, IT is playing an important information about points of interest, such as restau- role in improving access to information among indi- rants or transit stations, to find their way to previ- viduals with visual and hearing disabilities. ously unvisited locations. Some regions, including Text-to-speech technology, for example, helps Fairfax County, Virginia, have even compiled data- users with vision impairments to be able to “read” bases of obstacles such telephone poles, fire hydrants, materials that are written. Computer screen read- and sidewalk cracks to aid with mobility.11 Although ers, such as JAWS, and screen magnifiers help make a GPS is certainly not intended to take the place of
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mobility training, it does serve as a helpful electronic es barriers to communication for people with dis- guide and tool. abilities and provides new opportunities for social interaction. Many technologies offer high levels of flexibility and customization for users with different Accessible Technology needs. Thus, for example, people with hearing dis- abilities, who have little use for voice telephone fea- Accessible technology is technology that has many tures on a cell phone, can instead opt to use the tex- broad applications but helps remove barriers and ting, instant messaging, and e-mail features on these make the world more accessible for people with devices. In fact, some cellular phone companies offer disabilities, giving them more access to informa- mobile phone plans exclusively for individuals with tion, communication, and independence. The fact hearing disabilities.14 Users with hearing disabilities that digital information can easily be converted into can similarly bypass traditional media that rely on voice, text, or even physical patterns has led to the voice communication and instead use videoconfer- development of many low-cost, readily available gen- encing services to communicate through sign lan- eral purpose devices that also can be used by people guage or lip reading. Using speech recognition soft- with disabilities. ware, broadcasters can offer closed captioning for all Many accessible technologies were not original- of their programs, even live programs, at a lower cost ly designed to address specific disabilities but were than that of using a human stenographer. rather adapted for them. Speech recognition soft- Similarly, the widespread digitization of infor- ware, for example, has many uses such as dictation or mation has created a paradigm shift that benefits automated telephone systems; however, the technol- people with disabilities. Information is no longer ogy can also provide independence for quadriplegics constrained to a single medium. Instead, informa- by allowing them to control a computer with their tion technology has created a world where users can voice. Similarly, a German research institute de- choose the format in which they want to consume signed a hands-free computer interface for comput- information. Twenty years ago, for example, only ers in an industrial setting that uses eye movement to a paper copy of the New York Times was available. control a cursor; the researchers quickly realized the Now individuals can choose to read the newspaper technology’s usefulness for quadriplegics.12 in print, online, or on a cell phone or other mobile IT allows almost any action—including vibra- device. Visually impaired subscribers can use text- tions of the vocal cords and tongue movements—to to-voice applications to hear the newspaper and be converted into an electronic signal that can con- subscribe to podcasts from leading New York Times trol another electronic device. Thus, for example, in- columnists. dividuals unable to speak because of a neurological Many people with disabilities have found that disorder can use a neckband called Audeo that picks high-speed broadband Internet access provides them up nerve signals in the neck (generated when a per- with many unprecedented opportunities to access son tries to speak), relays them wirelessly to a com- information and services. Whether a person has a puter, and then plays back those words using a syn- mobility impairment or chronic fatigue, options thesized computerized voice. This device can also be such as telecare and telework can improve their qual- used to facilitate physical movement by, for example, ity of life. Telework allows people with disabilities allowing an individual to control a wheelchair with to work from their home, a convenience that can her voice. Quadriplegics now have many options mean the difference between employment and un- for interfacing with a computer or IT-enabled de- employment for individuals unable to commute. In vices such as artificial limbs. Researchers have even addition, working from home may provide a person designed systems that allow individuals to control a with a disability a more accessible and flexible work cursor using their brain waves.13 environment. Telework also benefits companies who The widespread digitization of information en- can use this benefit to retain productive employees ables multiple modes of communication, each with who face short-term or long-term disabilities. its own unique features and benefits. Thus, it reduc- Finally, accessible technology can help ensure that
52 7. Accessibility for People with Disabilities voters with disabilities have the same rights and in- at home, as compared with 30 percent of individuals dependence as other voters. One of the fundamen- with a disability.16 Home computer use is especially tal components of modern democracies is the use of important for the members of the disabled commu- anonymous ballot in elections. Anonymous ballots nity because many of them do not have access to the help prevent voter coercion and vote selling. Until Internet at work. Overall, the disabled community the recent introduction of electronic voting machines, is generally poorer and has a higher rate of unem- many citizens with disabilities could not vote privately ployment than the general population. Adaptive or independently. Voters with certain visual disabilities, technology also imposes additional costs on disabled as well as many voters with mobility limitations such users who wish to use otherwise technology that is as arthritis or quadriplegics, for example, cannot use otherwise inaccessible to them. voting systems such as punch card systems, lever ma- Fortunately, as the price of computing continues chines, or paper and pencil methods unless they have to decline, much IT is becoming more affordable.17 assistance. Electronic voting machines can incorporate In addition, many government and nongovernmen- accessible design features to allow greater accessibility tal organizations support programs to increase access for individuals with disabilities. Voters with visual dis- to people with disabilities. In Korea, for example, abilities can hear ballot choices through voice-to-text the government sponsors over 8,000 community technology in electronic voting machines; and mobil- centers where the public can get free Internet access, ity-impaired voters can operate the electronic voting and it also runs a program to provide people with machines with accessible buttons or even “sip-and- disabilities free computers and training.18 puff” straw-like devices for quadriplegics.15 Developers of new technology must continue to design products with accessibility for people with disabilities in mind. Too often accessibility is for- Moving Forward with Accessibility gotten in the design process. One study in 2006 found, for example, that only three out of 100 of the For people with disabilities, the development of top website destinations on the Internet passed the modern IT offers unprecedented levels of access minimum international standards for accessibility.19 to information and communication and improves Fortunately, content developers increasingly rely on their functional capabilities. Unfortunately, many structured data formats to manage growing amounts people with disabilities do not have access to com- of data and data are increasingly flowing to acces- puters or other IT because the technology is beyond sible formats. In addition, improvements in search their means. The technological divide between dis- and data-mining algorithms means that software abled and nondisabled individuals is often striking. may some day be able to extract accessible informa- A 2006 study, for example, reported that 58 percent tion from otherwise inaccessible data sources. of individuals without disabilities used a computer
Endnotes
1. Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, “UN Enable: Factsheet on Persons with Disabilities,” 2008
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9. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), “NIST ‘Pins’ Down Imaging System for the Blind,” Gaithersburg, Maryland, updated October 24, 2007
54 This chapter is from the publication:
Digital Quality of Life: Understanding the Personal and Social Benefits of the Information Technology Revolution by Dr. Robert D. Atkinson and Daniel D. Castro
To learn more or to download a copy of the complete report, please visit the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation online at www.innovationpolicy.org.
About the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
ITIF is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy think tank committed to articulating and advancing a pro-productivity, pro-innovation and pro-technology public policy agenda internationally, in Wash- ington DC and in the states. Recognizing the vital role of technology in ensuring American prosperity, ITIF focuses on innovation, productivity, and digital economy issues.
Technological innovation, particularly in information technology, is at the heart of America’s growing economic prosperity. Crafting effective policies that boost innovation and encourage the widespread “digitization” of the economy is critical to ensuring robust economic growth and a higher standard of living. However, as in any new and changing situation, policymakers have varied awareness of what is needed and what will work. In some cases legislators have responded to new and complex technology policy issues with solutions more suited for the old economy. And as the innovation economy has be- come increasingly important, opposition to it from special interests has grown. Finally, the excitement that the press, pundits and decision makers showed toward the information technology (IT) revolu- tion in the 1990s has all too often been replaced with an attitude of “IT doesn’t matter.” It is time to set the record straight—IT is still the key driver of productivity and innovation.
As a result, the mission of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation is to help policy- makers at the federal and state levels to better understand the nature of the new innovation economy and the types of public policies needed to drive innovation, productivity and broad-based prosperity for all Americans.
ITIF publishes policy reports, holds forums and policy debates, advises elected officials and their staff, and is an active resource for the media. It develops new and creative policy proposals to advance in- novation, analyzes existing policy issues through the lens of advancing innovation and productivity, and opposes policies that hinder digital transformation and innovation.
To find out more about the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, please contact us at 1250 I Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005.
E-mail: [email protected]. Phone: (202) 449-1351. Web: www.innovationpolicy.org