The Intersection of Technology and Inclusion for People with Disabilities and Marginalized Communities
摘要
As digital technologies continue to transform our world, the potential exists to produce both greater inclusion and the risk of deepening exclusion. People with disabilities are included when they can learn, work, and engage in community life through digital platforms of their choice. Sadly, today, they are often treated as an afterthought. The vision for this report is that of a world where users’ differences can easily be accommodated. From that context, the Intersection of Technology and Inclusion was seeded because there is increasing concern that people with disabilities and marginalized individuals in underrepresented communities may become further disenfranchised unless careful attention is paid to their inclusion. Disabling discrimination often results from making decisions for marginalized groups rather than involving them in the design process. The intersection of technology and inclusion of people with disabilities and marginalized communities is where opportunity and responsibility meet. Currently, available research focuses on developed nations, demonstrating how diverse stakeholders, including people with disabilities, disability organizations, technology initiatives, academics, individuals including those who identified as LGBTQ + , racial minorities, veterans with disabilities, and refugees and new immigrants, among others, demonstrate exclusion. By caring about how we include these individuals, we can not only reduce barriers to accessing technology but also make an impact and foster social and economic participation. We believe companies should create a level playing field, eliminating bias in the hiring process and creating an enabling environment that allows for the development and use of technology tools by all. This chapter exemplifies a commitment. It is a step toward uncovering these complexities in developed and developing countries, contributing to a robust conversation, designing inclusive technologies for all people, and ultimately causing us and our partners to take action.