Assistive Technology and Software to Support Accessibility

Abstract

Since the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), efforts have been made to increase access to public services, businesses, education, and public spaces for all members of the community. However, digital accessibility to information online is regularly an afterthought or applied retroactively, rather than a standard consideration integrated into the creation, instruction, and dissemination of information resources. Libraries can serve as advocates for increasing digital accessibility to information resources. This column will investigate what technologies are currently being utilized for digital accessibility, discuss concerns related to digital accessibility, and consider methods for libraries to become more involved with supporting and integrating digital accessibility into online library services.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital accessibility
• emerging technology
• libraries
• persons with disabilities
• technology accessibility