Technology and society: How information and communication technologies can enhance the lives of persons with a disability

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) can enhance the lives of people with a disability (who number over 500 million worldwide). For the information technology (IT) industry, there is an incredible potential to do more to adapt to this global market. The kinds of technologies that are useful to people with a disability are also useful to society as a whole. Designing for all kinds of people, whether able-bodied or disabled, is simply good design. The paper's message is that universal design is do-able. To create this change in perception, we need to work with positive images of disabled people and to influence the attitudes of everyone working in the IT industry: from higher-level managers and decision-makers, to computer scientists, information and communications specialists, and systems designers and developers. Working within our professional associations and within the scope of changing legislation can both help in this regard. The cost of ignoring the potential offered to our communities and societies by involving disabled people in them, and the role that IT can play in this, is a price that cannot be allowed.