Technology creates gateways to jobs, training and education for people with disabilities. Specialized devices, also known as assistive technology, together with generic or mainstream technology products and services that have been designed with the widest number of users in mind (“universal design”), can enhance the ability of person with a disability to earn a living.
The U.S. Census Bureau 1992 Survey of Income Program Participation identified more than 22 million Americans who have functional limitations in hearing, seeing or having their speech understood. In addition, millions of individuals with cognitive disabilities (e.g., mental retardation, learning disabilities) have difficulty using the products and services developed by America’s telecommunications and information technology industry sectors. With America’s population aging, the implications for manufacturers and developers of assistive technology and mainstream technologies are clear: there are critical, and growing, numbers of people who cannot with ease:
hear and manipulate voice menus and instructions
see what is displayed on computer screens and other read-out devices
walk, wheel up to or physically operate devices that access information (e.g., computer kiosk, computers)
speak to a human or electronic operator, or have great difficulty in doing so
manage controls, buttons, levers and switches
understand, or who become confused, when using or operating communication devices and services.
Electronic Tools that Help
People with various disabilities are able to do what many people without disabilities take for granted when access needs are incorporated into mainstream products or when adaptive devices are readily available. Listed below are just a few examples.
adapted computer keyboards and large button key pads
computer software zoom and large print features
closed captioning for video products
web browsers that work for people with visual problems
E-mail text or audio messaging
pagers that vibrate
talking caller ID
Federal Laws
People with disabilities are at a disadvantage when essential job functions require using or operating technology devices and services, or manipulating information appliances to access work-related content, if products and services have not been designed with disability in mind. Federal laws which help address these problems for people with disabilities are discussed below.
Telecommunications Act of 1996: PL 104-104
Section 225 (Relay Services) mandates a nationwide system of telephone relay services to enable people with hearing and speech disabilities to have phone conversations with employers, friends, family and others.
Section 255 (Access by Persons with Disabilities) requires all manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and providers of telecommunications services to ensure that equipment and services are designed, developed and fabricated to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable.
Section 713 (Video Programming Accessibility) ensures that video services (e.g., movies, television) are accessible to individuals with hearing and speech disabilities through closed captioning. Section 713 also addresses the issue of video description for people with visual impairments.
Several other sections of the Telecommunication Act will change how communication services are delivered. These changes will benefit people with disabilities if their access needs are considered.
Section 251 (Interconnection) states that telecommunications carriers cannot install network features that take away or reduce functionality for users with disabilities.
Section 256 (Coordination for Interconnectivity) provides that access by people with disabilities be addressed by the industry in telecommunications network planning.
Rehabilitation Act, P.L. 105-220
Section 508 requires that electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained or used by the Federal government must be accessible to people with disabilities, unless it would pose an undue burden to do so. This includes both employees of Federal agencies and customers of Federal agencies who use information technology devices (e.g., kiosks, computers, electronic voting booths) to access government information and interact with government agencies. Federal agencies must be in compliance with these technology accessibility standards for all electronic and information technology acquired on or after August 7, 2000. If it is an undue burden to comply with these standards, the agency must still provide information and data to individuals with disabilities through an alternative means of access.
In general, an information technology system is accessible to people with disabilities if it can be used in a variety of ways that do not depend on a single sense or ability. For example, a system that provides output only in audio format may not be accessible to people with hearing impairments, and a system that requires mouse actions to navigate may not be accessible to people who cannot use a mouse because of a dexterity or visual impairment. Some individuals with disabilities may still need specific accessibility-related software or peripheral devices to be able to use Section 508 compliant systems.
Since the Federal government purchases millions of dollars of information technology each year, Section 508 standards will have great impact on how information technology products and services are designed in general and will have a great spill-over effect in the private sector. Thus a major barrier to employment for people with disabilities will fall.
Assistive and Information Technology Resources on the Web
The Trace Center is a research, development and resource center on technology and disability at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. http://trace.wisc.edu/
The Research Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Web site provides an alphabetical listing of each state’s technology-related assistance project with contact person, phone number, address and hyperlink to the state Web page. Additional information about RESNA can be found at www.resna.org, and additional information about the RESNA Technical Assistance Project is available at www.resna.org/taproject.
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) works to make Web page formats and protocols accessible to people with disabilities so that Web page creators can build in usability for people with disabilities. http://www.w3.org/WAI/
United Cerebral Palsy Associations (UCPA) provides disability policy information (i.e. fact sheets on how to get assistive technology paid for if on SSI or SSDI.) http://www.ucpa.org
Office of Disability Employment Policy’s Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has a database of assistive technology products used in making jobs accessible. http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/english/homeus.htm
U.S. Access Board develops standards for accessible information technology. See rules at <http://www.access-board.gov>.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has many rulemakings involving disability issues. Click to Disability Issues Task Force (DITF) page or use the search engine at <http://www.fcc.gov>.
Center for Information Technology Accommodation (CITA) is the General Services Administration’s technical demonstration and resource center in Washington, DC, that provides federal agencies data about information technology. http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/coca/index.htm