Digital Equity for Assistive Technology Users


Rarely do we get the chance to make a major difference in digital equity.

This year, a breakthrough – years in the making –
can allow us to do just that.

The problem

Assistive technology (AT) users are unable to use public or shared computers in libraries, schools, and community centers.

While these computers are provided so everyone can use them, many AT users are left out because they cannot install the AT they need to use them.

As a result, although we feel it important to have public and shared-use computers available in all these places, those who use AT are excluded.

This wasn’t done on purpose, but rather because there was no solution to security concerns.

A computer lab with multiple desktop computers. Each screen displays a large red prohibition symbol, indicating restricted access,  representing the inaccessibility of public and shared-use computers for assistive technology users.
The same image as the previous one without the prohibition symbols, representing the computers are now accessible because of the new capability.

The breakthrough

This year, a new capability* has become available that addresses the security issue and allows AT users to:

  • Have their AT automatically and securely installed when they sit down to a public or shared-use computer;
  • And the AT disappears when they leave
* The solution is available as open-source code on Github, free for anyone to use. It is also already available as a free service from one nonprofit organization.

help us make “at anywhere” happen

If you want to help ensure that assistive technology users have equal access to public computers and can use their AT anywhere, you can:

Two orange handprints with a red heart between them.
Clipboard with a pen.

sign on

to the Position Statement

Open book with a heart above it.

Send Us Your Stories

to stories@atanywhere.org

disclaimer

The purpose of this site is not to endorse any one implementation – but to endorse the idea of “AT Anywhere”, an idea whose time has come. 

And to help make AT Anywhere a reality — especially for those who have fewer resources and do not each have their own computer.