Adoption of Wireless Technologies: Key Policy Issues, Barriers and Opportunities for People with Disabilities INET 2002 – Accessibility Panel June 20, Paul M.A. Baker, Ph.D. Associate Director, Policy Research Georgia Centers for Advanced Telecommunications Technology Georgia Institute of Technology

Overview Wireless Technology Permits portable devices to function as remote universal information and control appliances Wireless technologies enable people with disabilities to participate in an increased range activities

The Disability Community Americans with disabilities, remain “pervasively disadvantaged” (NOD, 2002) Disabilities can involve sensory, physical, and/or cognitive conditions, and have varying degrees of severity An estimated 54 million men, women and children – 20 percent of the United States population – have a disability that impacts everyday activities

The Disability Community only 32% of Americans with disabilities are employed, are roughly three times as likely to live in poverty, with household incomes below $15,000 35% of people with disabilities say they are minimally involved in their communities, compared to 21% of their non-disabled counterparts Young people with disabilities are twice as likely to drop out of high school, and half as likely to complete college 25 million family caregivers provide aid and assistance to people with disabilities

Legislative/Regulatory Policies The Federal government has enacted policies affecting people with disabilities, roughly classifiable into four categories: Civil Rights Statutes Entitlement Programs Discretionary Programs Miscellaneous Provisions

Key Disability-linked Policy Issues RERC researchers assessed the wireless policy, regulatory and market environment and identified six pertinent issues: – –Access to Information – –Community Living – –Employment Opportunities – –Expertise & Awareness – –Health Care Coverage – –Disability Policy Arena

Key Wireless/IT-linked Policy Issues RERC identified six issues related to the ability of disabled persons to use wireless/IT technologies: – –Spectrum Allocation – –Location Technology – –Digital Divide – –Device Incompatibility – –Consumer Utility – –Inter-Carrier Text Messaging / Universal Design

Barriers to Use Economic Barriers Awareness/Proficiency Technological Incompatibilities

Opportunities for Increasing Deployment Regulatory/Policy Interventions Market Mechanisms Outreach/Awareness

Conclusions Changing conception/awareness of disabilities Opportunities offered by new wireless/telecom technologies Unmet market for assistive technologies/universal design based products, can drive product innovation Information sharing collaborations and partnerships can leverage resources of different groups, increase awareness of product possibilities, and help manufacturers optimize accessible product design Policy interventions can accelerate process by providing incentives for collaborative activities, training initiatives, increased use of universal design, and device interoperability