Helping those who can't help themselves.

They're in a wheelchair and/or have mental/physical disabilities, but as new media advances further and quicker each year, those who could not take advantage of new media are now being given the opportunity to do so, and it has also become law for the use of new media to be available for persons with disabilities under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Subpart A of Section 508 states that "...individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public information or services from a Federal agency, have access and the use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency."

A less technical variation of this passage from the Section would be: "Disabled people have the right to use technology." Why shouldn't they? They're people just like the rest of us!

How does a person with disabilities use new media? Through "assistive technology". Assistive technology is technology that helps an individual perform a task that would otherwise be difficult or even impossible for them. Something as simple and as a walker or a wheelchair can be labeled as assistive ware. In terms of new media, texting can be called assistive ware as someone who is deaf can still chat with others over their mobile phone. Someone who has limited use of their hands might use a keyboard with enlarged keys. The possibilities for disabled persons to be included in today's society through the use of new media continues to grow as more assistive technology becomes available.

edited for spelling corrections