Myhill William N, Cogburn Derrick L, Samant Deepti, Addom Benjamin Kwasi, Blanck Peter
Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-2130, USA.
Assist Technol. 2008 Fall;20(3):157-74. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2008.10131943.
Since publication of the Atkins Commission report in 2003, the national scientific community has placed significant emphasis on developing cyberinfrastructure-enabled knowledge communities, which are designed to facilitate enhanced efficiency and collaboration in geographically distributed networks of researchers. This article suggests that the new cyberinfrastructure movement may not fully benefit those participants with disabilities, unless closer attention is paid to legal mandates and universal design principles. Many technology-enhanced learning communities provide geographically distributed collaboration opportunities that expand the inclusion of diverse peoples and help close the digital divide. However, to date, most collaboratory efforts have not emphasized the need for access among people with disabilities nor meeting minimum standards for technological accessibility. To address these concerns, this article reports on two pilot collaboratory studies that explore the role advanced information, communication, and collaboration technologies play in enhancing geographically distributed collaboration among specific research and applied networks within the national disability community. Universal design principles inform the design of the collaboratory and its use and our efforts to ensure access for all. Data for this article come from Web-based surveys, interviews, observations, computer logs, and detailed, mixed-methods accessibility testing. Emerging results suggest that with deliberate and systematic efforts, cyberinfrastructure can be more accessible and generate benefits among persons with disabilities. The authors provide lessons learned and recommendations for future research, policy, law, and practice.
自2003年阿特金斯委员会报告发布以来，国家科学界高度重视发展以网络基础设施为支撑的知识社区，其旨在提高地理上分散的研究人员网络的效率并促进合作。本文指出，除非更加关注法律规定和通用设计原则，否则新的网络基础设施运动可能无法让残疾参与者充分受益。许多技术增强型学习社区提供地理上分散的合作机会，扩大了对不同人群的包容并有助于缩小数字鸿沟。然而，迄今为止，大多数合作努力都没有强调残疾人的接入需求，也未达到技术可达性的最低标准。为解决这些问题，本文报告了两项试点合作研究，探讨先进的信息、通信和合作技术在加强国家残疾人群体中特定研究和应用网络之间地理上分散的合作中所起的作用。通用设计原则为合作实验室的设计、使用以及我们确保所有人都能接入的努力提供了指导。本文的数据来自基于网络的调查、访谈、观察、计算机日志以及详细的混合方法可达性测试。初步结果表明，通过刻意和系统的努力，网络基础设施可以更便于使用，并为残疾人带来益处。作者提供了经验教训以及对未来研究、政策、法律和实践的建议。
