Overview

The previous lesson introduced you to some of the ways people with disabilities navigate the web and use technology to consume content. On this page, we dive a bit deeper into the technology that helps people with disabilities navigate the digital world and complete tasks.

Core Concepts

Why do I need to know about assistive technology?

Unless you've spent time around people with disabilities, you probably don't know how they use technology to navigate the world. It's important to have some knowledge of assistive technology so that you do not make assumptions about what someone with a disability can and cannot do. Assistive technology can be high tech or low tech.

There are some forms of assistive technology that you are already familiar with: wheel chairs, glasses, canes, hearing aids, and your phone (most smart phones allow for enlarged text, voice to text, text to speech, voice dictation, etc. - and most of us are using those features with realizing they were created with people with disabilities in mind).

Given the number of technological innovations, we're encountering a world where the ways in which we consume information, navigate the web, and use computers/devices are constantly changing as more opportunities and approaches are developed. That said, don't let your assumptions about disability keep you from creating a space where these possibilities become opportunities.

Assistive tech for blindness and vision impairment

Many people with low vision or blindness use screen readers, a software that reads what's on the computer screen to them and allows people to use keyboard commands in order to navigate through websites and applications. Common screen readers are JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver.

If someone reads Braille, they can use a refreshable Braille display hooked up to a computer or device to read digital documents (check out how Cyrus Habib uses assistive tech in this Seattle Times article).

For folks who may have some vision, they may use a magnification program like ZoomText in order to greatly increase the size of their screen in order to see the content. They may use settings that allow them to increase contrast, invert colors, change the display, etc. They may also use a screen reader (described above) or text to speech program (which simply produces audio of written text, but is not a technology used to navigate a computer/device).

Screen Reader Demo (13 mins)

How do people who can't see a computer screen navigate a website? Colleen explains the basics of how she uses a screen reader and how to design for visually impaired users.

Screen Reader Demo

Web Accessibility 101: ZoomText Demo (3 mins)

SSB Client Services Director Cammie Truesdell demonstrates how ZoomText magnification software works, as well as common accessibility challenges faced by users with low vision when using screen magnification software.

Web Accessibility 101: ZoomText Demo

Assistive tech for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing

People who are Deaf or hard of hearing may use captions, an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, or read lips in order to obtain information presented in spoken word. With the ability to attend meetings virtually, many folks can now use remote captioners to caption live meetings as opposed to finding someone to attend the event in person. YouTube and other video hosting platforms have also advanced to improve the ability to add captions to videos, making them more searchable for anyone.

CART (Communication Access Real-Time) is also known as live captioning. Live captions are often provided for live events. In some cases the captioner may be physically present, but more and more we're seeing these services provided remotely.

Assistive tech for mobility-related disabilities

People with limited or no use of their hands or arms can use switch technologies to operate devices around the house or work environment. With the increase in home automation, these tools are becoming more popular among the general population as we learn to control more and more of our life through our smart phones.

When it comes to using computers and navigating the web, people with mobility impairments have a number of options. Some people interact using only a keyboard, without the use of a mouse or other pointing device. Depending on their level of fine motor skills, someone may use an alternative input device, like a head or mouth pointer, a joystick, or a sip-and-puff device in order to use a keyboard or mouse, or to replicate that functionality. Some people may use a touchscreen instead of a traditional keyboard and mouse, while others may use voice input technologies (e.g., Dragon NaturallySpeaking) rather than use a keyboard or mouse.

Word prediction technologies can also assist people with physical disabilities that may make it difficult to type or write.

Web Accessibility 101: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Demo (5 mins)

Thomas Logan, Senior Accessibility Consultant for SSB BART Group, demonstrates the use of Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech recognition software to perform basic tasks including completing a form online.

Web Accessibility 101: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Demo

Assistive tech for people with learning disabilities and cognitive impairment

There's a wide range of tools and programs that can be used to support people with cognitive and learning disabilities. Some of the assistive tech previously discussed may be beneficial, like text to speech, speech input, and word prediction technologies. Other solutions may include voice recorders/smart pens, memory aids, graphic organizers, etc.

Assistive tech for people who are neurodivergent

People who are neurodivergent may use any of the types of assistive tech identified on this page for other groups. Some assistive technologies used by people who are neurodivergent that are not listed under other groups include screen readers that highlight text as is it read, plugins to allow changing the font used on web pages, noise-canceling headphones or noise generators (e.g., white noise machines), fidget toys, and planning and time-keeping tools.

Compatibility

It's important to realize that assistive technology is a tool - not a solution. For assistive technology to work and get the user closer to a solution, the content that's being navigated/consumed must be compatible with the assistive technology. That is, it must be accessibly formatted. For instance, a screen reader cannot read a scanned PDF because the scanned PDF is an image that contains no readable text. So, on one side you have the user and their assistive technology, but on the other you have the author and their content. To ensure accessibility the content creator does not need to know how to use assistive technology, they just need to know how to create content that can be used with these tools.

Video Supplements

Types of Assistive Technology (3 mins)

This video from Colorado State University Assistive Technology Resource center provides an overview of different types of assistive technology.

Types of Assistive Technology

Additional Resources

25 Incredible Assistive Technologies - this is an interesting blog post that outlines a variety of different types of assistive technologies that you may or may not be aware of.