Innovations in measuring accessibility: Theoretical and practical perspectives

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increased awareness in the general public, in government and in business that people with disabilities and older people have distinct needs and preferences that must be met in order for them to participate as equal members of environments incorporating information and communications technologies. With this increased awareness has come legislation and company policies stating the necessary provision of accessible systems for disabled and older people in all facets of society. In order for these policies to be properly implemented there is a need to further understand accessibility and its impact on the people and systems around us. This workshop will focus on exploring the concept of accessibility and the boundaries of accessibility research. It is intended to bring together individuals working in disparate fields of research to improve the definition of accessibility and to refine our understanding of the as yet unaddressed barriers in the information society such as the impact of mobile technology and the aging population.