Overview

"Inclusive Information Technology and Business Success," the second institute of the Disability and Information Technologies (Dis-IT) Research Alliance, was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from May 10-12, 2005. The theme of the institute was "How do we address the needs of industry and people with disabilities in the development of emerging ICTs?"

The 2005 Dis-IT institute was successful in attracting a number of participants with industry experience including: Monica Ackermann (Assistive Vocational Technology Associates), Doug Brolly (RBC Royal Bank bis Group), Marcia Cummings (Rogers Communications Inc.), Dave Dougall (Research In Motion), Umang Dua (Issist), Steve Jacobs (IDEAL Group, Inc.), Helen Maskery (Maskery), Susan Mazrui (Cingular Wireless), Jeff Pledger (AbleTV.net), and Jim Tobias (Inclusive Technologies). The presence of the industry perspective provided many opportunities for communication between industry and researchers, academics, government, service providers, and disability advocacy groups. Many presentations focused on creative and effective strategies for communicating to industry the importance of developing information technologies that are accessible to people with disabilities.

Dr Gerard Goggin (Disability Studies & Research Institute (DSaRI), University of Queensland, Australia ) was invited to assist the Dis-IT Research Alliance in developing an interdisciplinary framework for understanding the social construction of disability and information technology that addresses and engages with industry. Dr Goggin, along with colleague Tim Noonan (SoftSpeak Consulting, Australia ), also discussed the collaborative model used by the Australian disability community of working with the IT industry in Australia.

Daily sessions on the following topics were held at the University of Manitoba:

• What is required to create a Canadian IT industry that is successful/profitable and produces technology that is accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities?
• How can we develop information technologies to enhance the participation of people with disabilities?
• Are accessibility standards, regulations, guidelines, etc. the way to achieve a Canadian IT industry that is successful/profitable and inclusive of people with disabilities?
• Partnership regulation models.
• From technical innovation to innovative thinking: What is it that precludes manufacturers of mainstream technologies from designing accessible products? Do competitive market forces work against designing for access?
• Challenges of engaging industry in research on accessibility

The University of Manitoba's Interdisciplinary Master's Program in Disability Studies offered a complementary graduate course from May 9-17, 2005. "Selected Topics in Disability Studies: Industry and Persons with Disabilities—Conflicting Information Technology Needs" (162.704) included the institute sessions May 10-12 and an additional week of classes.

Forty-two people attended the institute, including people with disabilities, researchers, academics, students, service providers, and representatives of disability organizations, industry, and government.

About the Dis-IT Research Alliance

The 2005 Dis-IT Institute was presented by the Disability and Information Technologies (Dis-IT) Research Alliance. The Dis-IT Research Alliance is a three-year project bringing together leading researchers, representatives of disability organizations, government, industry and service providers who are studying how to ensure that Canadians with disabilities can be part of the innovations and emerging information and communications technologies of the knowledge-driven New Economy. Dis-IT is examining how information and communications technologies can increase the quality of life and the inclusion of Canadians with disabilities in four areas: employment, post-secondary education, retail and public services, and democratic participation. It is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)'s Initiative on the New Economy (INE).

Summer institutes are an integral part of the knowledge dissemination component of the research alliance. They provide opportunities for participants from various backgrounds to share their ideas, information, and perspectives and meet face to face and through innovative and accessible technology. An earlier Dis-IT Summer Institute, "People with Disabilities and New Technologies: A Social Barriers Approach," was held June 14-18, 2004. A conference showcasing the findings of the research alliance will be held in fall 2006.

Return to 2005 Summer Institute - Inclusive Information Technology and Business Success final report