UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES - ALTERNATIVES OR COMPLEMENTS

Universal design and assistive technology present advantages and disad vantages in accommodating the needs of people with disabilities. The b est solution may be a combination of the two, using universal design w herever possible and commercially practical and using assistive techno logies wherever it is necessary or provides sufficient additional adva ntage to the user. Three approaches are discussed for the individual w ho is unable to interact with their world: change the individual, prov ide them with tools they can use, or change the environment. Examples of each are illustrated using personal workstations and shared, public , and encountered systems. The final decision may rest on commercial p racticality, and several new technologies are explored. Ultimately, we need to continue to move forward both on the universal design and the assistive technology fronts if we are to address the needs of people with disabilities and those who are aging.