Enabling technology: disabled people, work and new technology

The disability, human rights and society series reflects a commitment to a social model of disability and a desire to make this view accessible to a wide audience. 'Disability' is viewed as a form of oppression and the fundamental issue is not one of an individual's inabilities or limitations, but rather, a hostile and unadaptive society. This book, drawing on research which included a literature review, fieldwork, and interviews with disabled people, contributes to a social barriers approach to the study of disabled peoples' experience of using new technology. Both the positive benefits and disabling aspects of new technology are identified and discussed. Key findings include: there are obvious benefits of new technology in the lives of disabled workers and job seekers; many interviewees felt they were held back by continued barriers, including poor employment facilities, limited workplace access and inadequate training; and most benefits reported were serendipitous rather than planned. Show less