Wearables and People with Disabilities

Abstract

Assistive technology including wearables, have a positive impact towards changing the lives of people with disabilities. Advances in glass, electronics, sensors, and a wide range of digital devices are substantially improving how people with disabilities (PWD) navigate the world, and allow greater possibilities for PWD who are competing in today's job market. This chapter explores the following topics related to disabilities: Historical developments changing the lives of people with physical and sensory disabilities, laws pertaining to technology access, technological advances in wearables for individuals who are deaf, blind, paralyzed, or other mobility and speech impairments, socio-cultural and vocational implications of wearables for individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind or speech impaired, and the applications needed for wearables to meet the on-the-job demands.