A Brief History of Assistive Technology

 

Since the beginning of the Digital Age, the movement to make libraries more accessible has progressed rapidly. However, the history of Assistive Technology began long before audio books and screen readers were invented. Here is an outline of some of the most significant advancements in Assistive Technology:

•  1820 - Louis Braille developed Braille, a reading system designed to assist people with visual impairments.
•  1931 - Libraries began offering "talking books" (audio versions of books via phonograph) and free materials in Braille
• 1940 -  National Federation of the Blind began advocating for better access for visually impaired people in libraries
• 1973 - The 1973 Rehabilitation Act facilitated the creation of laws protecting individuals with disabilities
• 1990 - The Americans with Disabilities Act required the construction of ramps, elevators, and accessible shelving to improve the accessibility of libraries and other public buildings
• 2000s-Modern Day - New technologies are being designed rapidly to improve the accessibility of educational materials in libraries (i.e. screen readers, speech-to-text, digital Braille displays, zoom features for reading materials)

 

Works cited:

 Meena, J. 2022. Library services for people with disabilities: accessible technology. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts.