Almost 35 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted to protect the rights of millions of individuals with disabilities. Since then, it’s helped remove barriers for people previously excluded from certain aspects of community, fostered more diverse and equitable environments, and paved the way for advancements in accessible technology that improves the lives of people with disabilities. Today, more than 1 in 4, or approximately 70 million, Americans reported having a disability.
Further proven by COVID and the post-pandemic reality, the world is wirelessly driven. Now more than ever, this life-changing technology is created with all individuals in mind – including those with disabilities.
Wireless technology has become significantly more accessible and inclusive. Modern devices and services can be tailored to meet specific needs, providing people with greater independence. Some of the latest advancements include faster 5G networks with increased coverage, advanced voice assistants, and expanded and enhanced access to 911 services, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs), and the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. These innovations alongside additional wireless developments are creating more possibilities for wireless connections to improve lives.
Here are a handful of ways wireless innovation is helping meet the needs of all Americans:
Advanced Assistive Listening Systems Aid Hearing Impaired Individuals
Bluetooth’s Auracast is a recent audio development that allows individuals with hearing aids and cochlear implants to connect directly to an audio source, enhancing their hearing capabilities while mitigating the challenges – cost, quality, and interoperability – presented by previous solutions. This technology will continuously alter the experience of people with hearing loss in public settings, including conferences, concerts, worship centers, and more, overall enhancing participation and inclusion.
Device Control Alternatives Enable Inclusion of Disabled Users
Not all technology users have the same physical, cognitive, visual, or audio capabilities. Both Samsung and Apple devices have alternative control settings in their products, allowing users to make their own rules. These features transform taps and swipes to head movements, facial expression, and voice activations to control devices and build inclusion in at the start.
Voice Recognition Tools Become More Useful for People with Diverse Speech
Ongoing research and work by the Speech Accessibility Project led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is enabling voice recognition technology to incorporate a wider range of speech patterns. Through machine learning, diverse, unaccounted for speech patterns that are often associated with people with disabilities will be better recognized. By addressing this disconnect, voice recognition tools are more accessible and useful for people with disabilities.
Effective and Efficient Emergency Services Help Any User in a Crisis
As wireless technology advances, so do the resources for people in distress. Advancements in call routing and the deployment of new technologies are dramatically changing the emergency response landscape. Features like location based routing and improved emergency caller location accuracy have made 911 services more helpful for people facing communication barriers. For instance, with advanced wireless technology and network information, 911 operators receive more precise caller locations and decrease the rate of misdirected calls. WEAs, which provide individuals with public safety alerts, include links that show consumers visual images or video content (such as ASL videos), allowing for broader consumption of the message. Lastly, to make the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s mental health support more available, call- and text-to-988 now run via wireless, and callers who are deaf or hard of hearing, can contact 988’s ASL line and connect with crisis counselors who can communicate in ASL and are trained in working with these communities. Additionally, work to enhance 988 though georouting in order to connect callers to the closest help centers while still protecting a caller’s privacy continues.
At ACTwireless, we advocate for access to the best wireless possible. This includes innovation that transforms the day to day lives of individuals with disabilities, as well as life-saving enhancements to 911 and 988 that benefit ALL Americans. And thanks to speedy, reliable 5G networks and an array of wireless solutions, society is more accessible than ever before.
