Crossing the Digital Divide—Possibilities for Influencing the Private-Sector Business Case

Abstract

Abstract The accessible information and communications technologies (ICT) design community has made compelling arguments about the business benefits available to companies who design their products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities. The ICT industry, however, has not embraced accessible design. This article proposes re-branding accessible ICT design as "Anytime, Anywhere, Anyone (AAA) Design." This rebranded approach would shift the focus from one of "pushing" accessible design to one where business would actively "pull" for it. Keywords: accessibilityaccessible designinformation and communications technologiesinformation technologiespeople with disabilitiesuniversal design Shortly after the completion of the research, I attended an Ottawa Technology Executive Breakfast event on March 31, 2005. Brian McFadden, then chief technical officer (CTO) at Nortel, repeatedly talked about the need to simplify the end user's experience through anywhere, anytime, anyone delivery of multimedia services. His comments were not specific to people with disabilities.