IT Solutions for Disabled People

Adaptive Technology Adaptive Technology is anything that modifies existing hardware or software for use of a disabled person. It doesn’t have to be anything social- a mouse with a modified trackball can constitute as adaptive technology. Screen readers and Magnifiers are two examples of adaptive technology relevant to Web Development.

Screen Reader

Magnifier

Advantages Allows people with disabilities to have access to the daily information Helps to bring down cultural and geographical boundaries. Extends human faculties The designs are followed by a set of legislation to create an appropriate solution Communication with the outside world

Disadvantages Some of the products are not reliable enough, sometimes resulting in misinterpretation from the users' signals The software and hardware designed for impaired people is still very expensive Not widely available Lack of security features Hardware is quite expensive Some software may misguide the user if not properly operated

Question Define Adaptive or Assistive technology Evaluate the social and ethical issues of the introduction of technology to disabled people?

Social and Ethical Issues Reliability Security Privacy Equality of Access People and Machines

Statistics In America 7.4 million persons use assistive technology devices for mobility impairments. 4.8 million use canes 1.8 million use walkers 1.6 million use wheelchairs 4.2 million use hearing aides 1.7 million use back braces

48% of assistive technologies are paid for by the user or with family support. 53% of assistive devices or technologies are paid for by a third party such as foundations or government funding. Over 8 million Americans have visual impairments. Over 34 million Americans are hearing-impaired. Almost 2.7 million Americans have speech impairments.

Statistics Internationally Up to 600 million people throughout the world live with a disability. From those 600 million people only about 350 million use some sort of assistive technology.