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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Elizabeth DePoy, PhD and Stephen Gilson, PhD. Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, University of Maine, 5717 Corbett Hall, Orono, ME 04469, 207-581-1469, edepoy@maine.edu

In this presentation, we discuss and apply the results of a study in which the web user needs, preferences and barriers were examined in a diverse population of individuals with disabilities. The 21st century is characterized by the omnipotence and essential use of technology in all aspects of personal and community living. And while technology provides the foundation for full participation in and contribution to community life not conceptualized even a decade ago, the challenge of equal access to technology remains vexing, particularly for individuals with disabilities. Even with contemporary legislation and web authoring standards, individuals whose needs are complex and multifaceted frequently encounter limited opportunity to fully participate in electronic information use. In order to craft an innovative solution to serve the full range of individuals with disabilities and informed by the large and growing multi-disciplinary literature on the elements that influence and create barriers to website use, we conducted a multi-method inquiry, including initial focus groups to generate theory followed by large scale survey to answer the following two research questions: What are the usability patterns, needs and preferences of diverse disabled users? What is the full range of access barriers experienced by individuals with disabilities?

Our findings reveal that standards for “universal” web access standards primarily address atypical vision and hearing and do not take into account multiple user needs, preferences and barriers. Based on our results, we are developing and testing innovative technology.

Learning Objectives: In this session, participants will

• Discuss the limitations of current universal web access legislation and standards;
• Examine web user needs as complex and multi-faceted;
• Discuss the literature support, method, results and application of the presented study.

Keywords: Access, Technology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation