Cognitive Impairments

In February, the Research Excellence and Advancements for Dyslexia Act (READ Act) became Public Law No:  114-124, establishing a Research in Disabilities Education program to work towards expanding interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for students with dyslexia or other disabilities. More now than ever, access to broadband services is integral to academic, and eventually, career achievements for people with and without disabilities alike. In an...

We are pleased to announce that we have received funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to continue our work in advancing access to wireless technologies. The Wireless RERC will conduct research and development on wireless devices and technologies for a transformative future where individuals with disabilities achieve improved quality of life and enhanced community inclusion. The award is the fourth consecutive five-year...

In November, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules concerning emergency alert improvements were published in the Federal Register, re/starting the compliance clock countdown. In response to a joint petition filed by advocacy organizations and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the FCC adopted a Memorandum Opinion and Order [MB Docket No. 12-107] extending the compliance deadline to November 22, 2017, for the provision of audio descriptions of...

In May, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continued efforts to implement the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). The FCC released and Order [10-210] extending the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) until June 30, 2017. NDBEDP, established by the CVAA in 2010 and implemented by the FCC in 2012, is currently a pilot program that provides up to $10 million annually to support...

In June, The Federal Communications Commission announced the six winners and three honorable mentions of their Fifth Annual Awards for Advancement in Accessibility, also known as, the Chairman’s AAA. The awards are meant to recognize and honor innovative achievements in communications technology benefiting people with disabilities. This year, the awards were presented at the M-Enabling Summit at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Among the winners were...

July 2016 marked the 26^th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). While progress has been made in inclusive and equitable access to social and civic life, encumbrances still remain.  In a Presidential Proclamation, President Barack Obama addressed the musts, or imperatives of access and inclusion:...

In September the White House hosted the Designing for All Showcase, a celebration that recognized the work and expertise of companies, designers, and engineers making strides in inclusive design, assistive technology, and prosthetics. At the event, many new technologies were announced, as well as government programs facilitating the inclusion of people with disabilities to engage in all aspects of society including school, employment, and recreation. 

The Federal...

The paper considers the limits of human attention and how wearable interfaces should be developed to complement, not interfere, with normal human capabilities. Most interfaces on desktop computers do not have this problem; desktop interface designers can assume that the user is solely concentrating on the digital task. However, a major advantage of a wearable is that users can take it anywhere and use it anytime.

When we as developers and designers create a system that requires user interaction-whether it is computer software, a kitchen appliance, or a door knob-we often fall victim to a common mistake: we use ourselves as the model for our system's potential users. Even developing for an "average user" is a pitfall that results in numerous users whose needs are overlooked. The average user might account for the largest spike under a bell curve, but nonaverage users account for a much...

While wireless communication and other information linked technologies have rapidly achieved widespread levels of adoption, a significant array of stakeholder groups have been effectively excluded, not by as much by active intent as by inadvertent oversight and lack of awareness. Many of these technologies routinely used by the general population are frequently inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Barriers to the use of these technologies by people with varying disabilities may be...