• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living

Removing Barriers, Promoting Choices

  • About
    • About MCIL
    • Board of Directors
    • Leadership
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Independent Living Philosophy
    • Strategic Plan
    • Success Stories
    • Donors
  • Services
    • Services Overview
    • ADA Minnesota
    • Disability Hub MN
    • Case Management
    • Home Modification and Ramps
    • Independent Living and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IL/VR)
    • Individual Advocacy
    • PCA College Service Corps
    • Transitional Services and Nursing Home Relocation (NHR)
    • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
    • Youth Transition Services
  • News
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • About
    • About MCIL
    • Board of Directors
    • Leadership
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Independent Living Philosophy
    • Strategic Plan
    • Success Stories
    • Donors
  • Services
    • Services Overview
    • ADA Minnesota
    • Disability Hub MN
    • Case Management
    • Home Modification and Ramps
    • Independent Living and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IL/VR)
    • Individual Advocacy
    • PCA College Service Corps
    • Transitional Services and Nursing Home Relocation (NHR)
    • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
    • Youth Transition Services
  • News
  • Contact
  • Donate

Learn more about our services

You are here: Home / ADA Minnesota / Op-Ed: “Communication technology opens ‘doors’ for everyone, not only people with disabilities”

Op-Ed: “Communication technology opens ‘doors’ for everyone, not only people with disabilities”

The Hill
October 13, 2014

Communication technology opens ‘doors’ for everyone, not only people with disabilities

By John D. Kemp and Brandon M. Macsata

Today, most Americans overlook improvements made since the dawn of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) in 1990. Sidewalk ramps…automatic door openers…adjustable vanity mirrors…and automatic lighting and fixture controls were all designed to help make the “physical” world more accessible for and useable by all people, including individuals with disabilities. Now, isn’t it time we opened doors to the “virtual” world, and information and communication technology (“ICT”)?

Since 1998, federal agencies have been required by law to make their electronic ICT accessible to people with disabilities. Better known as “Section 508” (of the Rehabilitation Act), it mandates “individuals with disabilities who are Federal employees to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of the information and data by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities.” [1]

Accessible ICT is an evolving process, evidenced by the United States Access Board, which monitors Section 508 compliance, updating its standards, as well as other telecommunications accessibility guidelines. The House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman, Darrell Issa, has introduced legislation calling for the designation of the Chief Information Officers (CIOs) in all federal Departments, including significant changes to the management of information technology. This legislation passed the House of Representatives by voice vote, with similar legislation pending in the Senate.

Congress is currently faced with countless legislative proposals focusing on IT, ranging from healthcare, Veterans benefits, telecommunications and education, to name a few. But more needs to be done in both the public and private sectors. Wall Street and Main Street are both being re-defined by technology. The potential for our emerging “digital economy” is endless, if that technology is made more accessible. Consider this: CTIA recently reported that the mobile data traffic more than doubled last year! [2] We know that people with disabilities are yearning to leverage accessible technologies in their everyday lives. Whereas there have been many improvement in accessibility features on smart phones and mobiles devices, there is a still a long way to go. A recent report, authored by Nirmita Narasimhan, Program Manager at the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), and Axel Leblois, founder and Executive Director of G3ict, summarized the challenge:

“Senior citizens and people with physical or mental disabilities are often unable to access mobile phones because the equipment lacks the necessary accessibility features or because the price of the adapted phones and services remain unaffordable. Considering that 15 per cent of the world’s population, or over one billion people, have a disability that affects their access to modern communications, the commercial opportunities for mobile service providers, manufacturers and smart phone application developers are consequently substantial.” With so much of our daily lives dependent on mobile devices and the Internet, it is time that we ushered in an “accessible technology renaissance.”[3]

Aside from being the “socially responsible” thing to do, it also makes good business sense! In the first quarter of 2013, e-commerce expenditures reached 50.18 billion U.S. dollars.[4] Worldwide, it is estimated that the total value of e-commerce revenue topped $1.2 trillion in U.S. dollars.[5]

Maybe the more pertinent question to ask is, “How can we NOT afford to make ICT more accessible for people with disabilities?”

Ironically, despite its increasing relevance in our everyday lives, the World Wide Web is largely inaccessible for people with disabilities. Many websites are lacking “ALT Tags,” which are designed to help screen readers used by people who are blind or visually impaired identify and explain images, graphs and charts. Yet, missing ALT Tags are only the tip of the iceberg.

Last year, Walmart had over 59 million unique monthly visitors to its websites. As large as that number may seem, it pales in comparison to Amazon and Ebay, with 149 million and 91 million monthly unique visitors, respectively.[6] These companies, and many more – such as Deque, IBM and Microsoft – are investing in accessible ICT because they understand its inherent business and social value.

Ironically, just as people without disabilities benefit from physical accessibility improvements, they are already benefitting from accessible ICT. According to the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom), 80 percent of people using closed captions are not deaf or hard of hearing.[7]

What is accessible technology renaissance? It is one whereby we envision every single individual, regardless of disability, can fully access the modern marvels of technology. Technology is what drives our economy. Technology is what links our communities. Technology is what keeps us connected to the world around us. That is why it should be accessible to everyone.

[1] Section 508 Of The Rehabilitation Act. Section508.gov

[2] Mobile Data Traffic More Than Doubled Last Year, According to CTIA. Roll Call TechnoCRAT. June 17, 2014.

[3] Making mobile phones and services accessible for persons with disabilities. A joint report of ITU – The International Telecommunication Union and G3ict – The global initiative for inclusive ICTs. August 2012.

[4] Statistics 2013. E-Commerce Revenues. September 20, 2013.

[5] Statistics 2013. E-Commerce Revenues. September 20, 2013.

[6] Statistics 2013, E-Commerce Revenues, September 20, 2013.

[7] Did You Know? 80 Percent of People Who Use Closed Captions Are Not Hard of Hearing. CaptionsforYouTube. June 6, 2014.

Kemp is president and CEO of The Viscardi Center, and Macsata is general consultant of the National Business and Disability Council (NBDC) at The Viscardi Center.


Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/220415-communication-technology-opens-doors-for-everyone-not-only

Previous Post: « DOJ issues New ADA Technical Assistance Publication About Polling Place Access for Voters with Disabilities
Next Post: Government sues Honeywell over wellness program »

Primary Sidebar

ADA Minnesota logo

ADA Minnesota

  • ADA Minnesota Home
  • ADA Minnesota News
  • Understanding the ADA
  • ADA Minnesota Resources
  • ADA Minnesota FAQs
  • Great Lakes ADA Center
  • ADA Minnesota Facebook Page
  • Contact ADA Minnesota

Services for Consumers

  • Services Overview
  • ADA Minnesota
  • Disability Hub MN
  • Case Management
  • Home Modification and Ramps
  • Independent Living and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IL/VR)
  • Individual Advocacy
    • In-Person Classes & Activities
  • PCA College Service Corps
  • Transitional Services and Nursing Home Relocation (NHR)
  • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
  • Youth Transition Services
    • TNT Pre and Post Survey

Archives

  • May 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • February 2024
  • August 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • February 2023
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • November 2021
  • July 2021
  • May 2021
  • January 2021
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • June 2019
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • July 2017
  • October 2016
  • June 2016
  • September 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012

Connect With Us

Footer

Contact Us

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living
530 Robert Street North
St Paul, MN 55101
Voice: 651-646-8342
Email: info@mcil-mn.org

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 4:30 PM
(Services provided at the facility until 3:30 PM)

Facebook logoLinkedIn Logo
Live your most independent life, follow your path!

Copyright © 2025 · Metropolitan Center for Independent Living. All rights reserved.
Accessibility Statement · Privacy Policy · SMS Terms and Conditions · Sitemap
Built by Westwords