How common are disabilities?
~1 in every 5 people (about 20%) has a disability of some kind
Types of Disabilities
- Recognizable
- Hidden
-
... [Show More] Temporary
- Age-Related
Print Disabilities
a disability that prevents an individual from gaining information from printed material; requires the use of alternative methods to access the material
Screen readers
Devices that many people with visual impairments use to access the Web, which read aloud Web page text and descriptions that a user selects ONLY if the content is accessible
Assistive Technologies
Software and devices used to maintain, increase, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
They do not completely compensate for the disability. People who create the environments must create them with accessibility in mind in order for the assistive technologies to be most effective.
Assistive Technology for Blindness
- Screen readers
- Refreshable Braille devices
Assistive Technology for Low Vision
- Screen enlargers
- Screen readers
Assistive Technology for Color Blindness
- Color enhancement overlays or glasses
Assistive Technology for Deafness
- Captions
- Transcripts
Assistive Technology for Motor/Mobility Disabilities
- Head wand
- Mouth stick
- Alternative keyboards
- Eye gaze tracking
- Voice Activation
Assistive Technology for Cognitive Disabilities
- Screen readers
- Screen overlays
- Augmentative communication aids
The Digital Accessibility Revolution
The Web Enables Unprecedented Access to Information for the Blind
The Web Enables Unprecedented Access to Commerce for People with Mobility Impairments
Which statements are true? (Select all that apply)
A. For people with disabilities, the Internet is an obstacle that cannot be overcome even with assistive technology.
B. The term "assistive technology" applies only to computer use and Internet access.
C. The Internet is an important part of the solution for disability access.
D. Making a website accessible to people with disabilities makes it less accessible for other users.
C. The Internet is an important part of the solution for disability access.
Who uses assistive technology? (Select all that apply)
A. Only people who use handicapped entrances to buildings
B. People who wear glasses or contact lenses
C. People who wear hearing aids
D. People with motor disabilities
B. People who wear glasses or contact lenses
C. People who wear hearing aids
D. People with motor disabilities
True or False: There are many forms of disabilities that are not obvious to an observer.
True
Medical Model
Disability is viewed as a problem that is caused by medically-diagnosed genetic disorders, disease, trauma, or other health conditions. Disability is treated as a biological problem that diminishes quality of life and needs to be treated with professional medical care.
The legal definition of disabilities often relies on the assumptions of the medical model.
Strengths of the Medical Model
Explicitly acknowledges that there is a biological condition that places an individual at a disadvantage compared to the majority of the population.
A clearly-defined set of biological criteria helps medical professionals make important treatment decisions and the government to decide who gets assistance.
Weaknesses of the Medical Model
Frequently criticized by disability advocates.
- Overlooks the impact of the design decisions in our social environment
- Labels and stigmatizes the person as different and "less than" the rest of the population
- People who do not fit within the clearly-defined definitions may be denied benefits that they need
- Adds a level of inconvenient bureaucracy by having to "prove" your disability repeatedly
Social Model
The social model points out that society creates disabling conditions. To a large extent, "disability" is an avoidable condition caused by poor design.
The social model doesn't deny that there is a biological or medical component to disability. It merely points out that more inclusive designs can remove the barriers that people with disabilities face in their everyday lives.
Strengths of the Social Model
Empowers people with disabilities by removing the stigma often associated with physical impairments.
Empowers designers of physical and virtual environments to think broadly about usability for all kinds of humans. Inclusive designs sometimes require more creative thinking, but this can be a benefit, because the resulting designs are often better for everyone, not just for people with disabilities.
Weaknesses of the Social Model
The social model can de-emphasize the physical reality of a disability too much.
They argue that a person's disability can be an important part of one's identity, and it shouldn't be minimized to the point that people are afraid to talk about it. Accepting and "owning" one's disability can be very healthy from an emotional and psychological perspective.
Functional Solutions Model
The functional solutions model takes a practical approach to disability by identifying the functional impairments, or limitations, that are a result of disability. The model then seeks out solutions for eradicating these limitations through advancements in technology or methodology.
There is less of a focus on the social and political aspects of disability, but more focus on applying innovation to overcoming the limitations of disability.
Strengths of the Functional Solutions Model
Focuses on results that benefit people with disabilities. It takes a real-world approach to finding solutions that work, without getting hung up on theoretical or political questions. It instead puts energy into ideas, technologies, and innovations that improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Weaknesses of the Functional Solutions Model
Sometimes innovative solutions are not the most useful solution to broader problems, which may be a result of the social and environmental barriers people with disabilities face.
If accessibility professionals are too focused on creating practical technological solutions, they may miss opportunities to address the larger social context.
Sometimes addressing the larger social context works so well that it can make a specific technological solution obsolete. [Show Less]