CAST notes that Web pages must, for example: "provide informative text equivalents for graphics, clearly identify changes from the natural language of a document’s text" to captions or advertisements, "provide text summaries of graphs and charts, and ensure that all information that is presented in color is also available without color." These are but a few examples for a Web surfer is visually impaired. Web site development must include accommodations for disabled surfers. But once on the Web, disabled Web surfers encounter a daunting obstacle at many Web sites they are unable to receive or fully understand the information that is presented there.
Using current hardware and software devices, the Web itself is relatively accessible by the disabled. However it seems that the technology with the greatest potential to become a Number One asset to disabled people-Web sites-lacks the motivation or awareness to become out for the disabled. For example the Center for Adapted Technology (CAST) (has developed, among other things, the eReader, which converts text to speech. Software developers are beginning to evolve assistive software. Those who build computers are also following suit and thus computers are move toward universal accessiblity. The concept of expanding opportunities for individuals with disabilities through the development and innovative use of technology is certainly a familiar concept these days-we have one-handed keyboards, large button keyboards for those with hand tremors, and software programs that converts text into speech.Īs a society we are quite conscious of the need to accommodate those who are disabled.
Buildings have ramps for those unable to navigate stairs, restrooms have stalls that are wheelchair-friendly, elevators have Braille floor selection buttons, and televisions have closed-captioning for the hearing impaired (and for me, so that I can continue to watch TV in bed when my wife wants the sound turned off so that she can go to sleep). We run into the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) quite often these days. Computer Education Teacher, Lanesborough (Mass.) School System