* Happenings at the International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference
As I write this story, I am finishing up a week at a very unique technology conference: the International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference. The conference is hosted by California State University Northridge (CSUN) Center on Disabilities. To the thousands of people who attend this annual conference and exposition, the show is simply known as “CSUN.”
I’ve spent quite a bit of my time in the exhibition center, viewing the incredible innovations people have come up with to make life better for people with disabilities. But having attended this show for several years now, I’ve noticed a subtle shift in the way the technologies are positioned. Many companies are showing products that simply make computing easier for anyone. There’s also an emphasis on products for the elderly, which is rapidly becoming a large market as baby boomers age.
This event is attended by a wide spectrum of business people. Many of them work for agencies that cater to people with disabilities, such as the American Federation of the Blind. However, a growing number of attendees work for agencies or corporations with a diverse workforce, and these folks are looking for solutions to accommodate a range of needs of their employees.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires companies to provide “reasonable accommodation” for employees with a special need. Often such needs can be met with a simple and inexpensive tool or technology, and this helps an employee be more productive. For instance, one of my friends had a stroke that impacted her vision. A simple software application adjusts the size of the font on her computer screen, allowing her to continue to do her job effectively. Her employer is grateful to keep her unique expertise at work for his company.
Microsoft made a big splash at CSUN as it showcased the new Ease of Access Center in Windows Vista. Previous versions of Windows had accessibility features built into the OS, but Vista takes accessibility/ease of use to a new level. Users of all abilities can appreciate how Vista makes a computer adjustable to accommodate many needs and environmental situations.
From the Vista Control Panel, a user has the opportunity to do the following and more:
* Adjust font size for all applications.
* Turn on a screen magnifier for a greatly increased image.
* Use verbal commands to operate the computer and applications.
* Use a screen reader to read text on the screen.
* Adjust the keyboard to make it easier to use, including an onscreen keyboard for people who prefer not to type.
CSUN showcased a lot of companies that offer a simple solution for nagging problems. For example, GentleMouse showed a software application that takes the “click action” out of a mouse. This product is helpful to people with arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. Instead of moving your finger to effectuate a mouse click, you slide the cursor into an onscreen box to stimulate the click. The overall effect reduces the stress placed on hand and wrist muscles. Anyone who uses a mouse for hours at a time can appreciate this product.
I saw numerous products that add voice command features to ordinary office products. For instance, Canon has a Voice Guidance Kit add-on accessory for its imageRUNNER multi-function devices that allows a person to control the machine’s actions without pressing buttons. This is ideal for someone with a vision or mobility limitation, or someone in a wheelchair who can’t see or reach controls. Even those of us who forget to bring our reading glasses to the copier can speak our commands instead of struggling to read the text on the LCD panel.
Representatives from Adobe shared their wisdom on how to make documents and Flash presentations accessible to everyone. Did you ever stop to think how a person who is blind would use the fabulous Flash graphics on your Web site, or read a PDF document? With just a little extra effort, it’s possible to make your graphics and documents usable by everyone.
There are just too many innovative products to mention here. If you or your company are looking for solutions to make computing easier – whether or not you have a limitation – you can find a wide range of accessible products at Enablemart.com. At the very least, the people in your company who are responsible for providing the “reasonable accommodation” to employees should have Enablemart’s site bookmarked for easy research.
