Promoting Strategic Research on Inclusive Access to Rich Online Content and Services

TL;DR

This paper emphasizes the importance of inclusive access to online content and services for people with disabilities, highlighting the need for collaborative research across disciplines to enhance digital inclusion and participation.

Contribution

It advocates for strategic, interdisciplinary research partnerships to advance accessible online technologies and services for people with disabilities.

Findings

Increased online inclusion benefits education, employment, and health.

Collaborative efforts among academia, government, and industry are essential.

Research across multiple computer science fields is vital for progress.

Abstract

Access to content and services online is increasingly important for everyone, including people with disabilities. National commitments, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, and international resolutions, including the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, call for work to ensure that people with disabilities can participate fully in the online world. Gains in education, employment and health, as well as in civic engagement, social participation, and personal independence will follow from enhanced inclusion online. Research in many areas of computer science, including recognition technology, natural language processing, personalization, software architecture, and others, is needed to secure these benefits. Organizing this research calls for partnerships among academic researchers, federal agencies, and commercial organizations, as well as effective division of labor and cooperation between computer scientists, behavioral scientists, advocacy groups, and consumers.