Technology Solutions

Technology is serving as an equalizer for people with disabilities, removing workplace barriers and increasing employment opportunities while reducing social isolation. Monthly Internet use by members of the online disabled community exceeds that of the general population, yet connectivity and access for those with disabilities significantly trails the population at large, at 43 percent compared with 57 percent.¹⁶ This gap has been narrowed over the past several years, with the increasing availability and affordability of computers and accessible technology.¹⁷ This trend demonstrates how computing and the Internet are potentially valuable yet underutilized resources for the aging workforce and people with disabilities.

Accessibility is about removing barriers and providing access, making products and services available to, and usable by, everyone. A more accessible environment benefits everyone, including those with disabilities. All people benefit from an environment in which it is easier and safer to move and function. Ensuring accessibility encourages diversity, in our society and in the workplace.

To be accessible, technology must be flexible enough to meet the needs and preferences of a diverse cross-section of people with varied experience and abilities. Fortunately, many of the physiological changes associated with aging can easily be accommodated with current computers and platforms such as the Microsoft Windows XP operating system. When considering technological solutions to accommodate an aging workforce, employers should first consider the accessibility features that may already be available (but not yet activated) in their existing hardware and software, as well as third-party add-on assistive technology products.¹⁸

Accessible technology encompasses three elements:

• Accessibility features
• Assistive technology products, and
• Compatibility among the operating system, software and assistive technology products.

Accessibility Features

Accessibility features are options in a product that allow users to adjust the product settings to accommodate their individual accessibility needs. Such usage and personalization can benefit all users by offering increased usability, productivity, efficiency and comfort. Specific features can accommodate a range of vision, hearing, mobility, language and learning needs. Examples of accessibility features include those that allow a user to increase font size, change font settings or choose different colors for their computer screen display. Other examples are the option for users to receive announcements from their computer through sound notifications (a "ding" when new e-mail messages arrive), or visual notifications (a dialog box that appears, notifying users of new e-mail messages). While these features are included in commonly used technology and computer systems, they are not obvious to all users.

Numerous accessibility features built into standard computer operating systems can help people with mild age-related vision impairments use their computers and computing devices more comfortably and effectively. Accessibility solutions for vision impairments include simple user adjustments to the computer display, such as enlarging fonts and customizing color displays, and the use of screen-magnification aids.

Accessibility features built into standard operating systems such as Microsoft Windows XP also are useful to people with impaired mobility and include keyboard filters that help compensate for erratic motion, tremors, slow response time and similar conditions. One such example is Microsoft StickyKeys, which allow the user to enter key combinations sequentially without having to hold one key down while depressing a second. Other options allow users to adjust how quickly a letter appears on the screen when they hold down a key. Users can adjust mouse properties such as button configuration, double-click speed, pointer and cursor scheme, and how quickly the mouse pointer responds to movements of the mouse. Computer users can also increase the size of screen elements to provide a larger mouse target, which can benefit people who have impairments related to fine-motor skills.

Accessibility features for people with hearing loss include settings that allow the users to change sound notification to visual notification and to control volume. Microsoft Accessibility options include SoundSentry and ShowSounds, which allow users to receive visual warnings and text captions rather than audible messages to inform them of system events.

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology products are those that are designed to specifically accommodate an individual's disability (or multiple disabilities). Assistive technology products (also known as accessibility aids) are developed to work with a computer's operating system and software. Assistive technology can be anything from a different type of pointing device that takes the place of a mouse to a system equipped with a Braille display and screen reader. People with visual impairments can now have instant access to vast quantities of online information and "read" e-mail instantly without having to wait for documents to be converted to Braille or audiotape. Those with limited dexterity can use voice recognition software to perform work-related tasks such as writing documents and creating presentations and business analyses.

More than 100 companies offer hardware devices, accessories, aids and software applications that fall under the umbrella of assistive technology. These alternative input products include speech recognition systems, alternative keyboards, electronic pointing devices, sip-and-puff systems, wands, sticks, joysticks, trackballs and touch screens; and alternative output systems such as speech synthesizers, Braille embossers and displays, and screen readers.

Compatibility

The compatibility of the operating system is a critical component of accessible technology, ensuring that product innovation in mainstream products does not prevent users of varying physical capabilities from using the peripherals and interfaces that they rely on for their livelihoods.

Information in this section is excerpted from the report, "The Convergence of the Aging Workforce and Accessible Technology: The implications for commerce, business, and policy"