Digital inclusion through accessible technologies: Introduction to the special thematic session

Abstract

Not only access to digital media but also technical skills, educational opportunities, living conditions, personal support and financial resources play an important role in digital participation. In this article, existing barriers to digital participation and current research projects, examining existing access to digital resources and developing approaches to improve in particular the participation of people with cognitive impairments through appropriate technologies, are presented and discussed. Relevant future research fields, and approaches to the participatory development of accessible technologies and the increased application of the principles of universal design, are motivated.