Computers and persons with disabilities

Abstract

Computers could be regarded as the twentieth century discovery which had the greatest impact on the largest numbers of enterprises, businesses, households, and individual persons worldwide. Only a small minority of the world's people could be regarded as remaining untouched by the influence of computers. In many ways computers made the world more accessible for large numbers of persons with disabilities enriching their lives. It has been estimated that 10% of the American population are living with one or other disablement and that computers should be accessible to them in order to enable them to live their lives as fully as possible within the limitations caused by various types of disabilities (http://www.trace. wisc.edu/docs/accessible Iibraryl library.htm). This article will attempt to provide an overview of ways in which blind, deaf, paralysed and mentally challenged persons can benefit from using computers.