The message is the message: designing information technology for inclusiveness and accessibility

Universal design advocates designing virtual as well as physical environments to be accessible and usable by as many potential users as possible. However, dominant ways of thinking about accessibility and information technology, and the resulting design and implementation practices, tend to create needless barriers to information and opportunities for a large and growing group of technology users. These assumptions and practices are also disabling the development and uses of information technology in general. We describe some technological and barriers to providing universal access to information technology resources for students with disabilities at North Carolina State University. We present research from social sciences and disability studies that suggests insights and alternative models for understanding how and why "disability" is being socially reconstructed on the Web. We end with general suggestions for accessible technology and Web design that can expand possibilities for both technology development and technology users.