4: Who benefits from accessibility?

How does accessibility help people with learning or intellectual disabilities or brain injuries?


New applications for mobile touch-screen devices feature text-to-speech voices and symbols representing a default vocabulary. Such applications can improve communication for people with speech impairments or intellectual disabilities.

Caption: Electronic communication boards or applications can help users with communication disabilities by presenting a small set of meaningful icons. Selecting icons causes the device to display or speak the desired word, phrase, or message.

People with learning or intellectual disabilities or brain injuries may benefit from

  • alternative communication devices like a communication board that uses pictures;
  • clear language and well-organized information;
  • technology that enhances memory, such as electronic organizers or personal digital assistants; or
  • audio books or computerized speech output, such as screen readers and talking browsers.

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