Universal Service To Universal Access
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ENABLING ACCESS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Technology has always proved a great enabler, a way to multiply strength or speed tasks or perform the otherwise impractical. It has similarly reenabled those with disabilities, often returning to them the mobility and capability to achieve greater independence in their personal, social, recreational, educational, and vocational activities. The amazing advances in assistive technology continue to arrive at a rapid pace, returning a semblance of lost senses or skills to the disabled. Technology transfer from advanced space, military and communications programs feed an industry supported by dedicated research institutions.The other side of the issue is that the common telecommunications functions widely deployed in society should remain accessible. This has driven the Telephone Relay Services inclusion in Universal Service, the requirements for hearing aid compatibility of telephones, the wide availability of closed-captioning for television, the accessibility of Braille and audio books, among others. With the graphical nature of the modern computer and information access systems, care must be taken in the development of standards and the specific design of products and services to include as much as possible those with disabilities. By enabling optional input and output devices and formats, delivery of information services can continue to reach the broadest possible population. Speech output can be substituted for the graphic display while voice recognition or alternative input devices other than keyboards and mice can allow navigation and data entry. Standards and requirements for such capability will be driven at the national and international level, but it falls largely to the states and localities to provide programs and social support structures to propagate the equipment and support services necessary.