The mobile device has evolved from a phone into a robust innovation tool, a way to access the Internet on-the-go, and a conduit for the ever-expanding universe of mobile applications. One clear area of success is in the disability community where evolving wireless services and applications help connect those with disabilities.

Why We Care

• The number of Americans living with disabilities is significant and growing. For the 54 million Americans living with disabilities and the 35 million Americans who have a severe disability, access to mobile technologies is no small matter. Like most Americans, many people with disabilities consider their mobile device to be an indispensible tool in their everyday lives.
• Emerging mobile-enabled technologies are improving the quality of life for millions of disabled Americans. A growing array of easy-to-use tools are available on smartphones that can enable people with language- or auditory-based disabilities communicate easier, and people with vision-based disabilities more easily access visual materials.

Our Point of View

• Collaboration between innovators and disability communities has led to great progress. The intersection of mobile innovation and broadband technologies is unleashing tremendous opportunity for people with disabilities in many areas including employment, health care, education and emergency response.
• More wireless spectrum is urgently needed to accommodate growing demand. The capacity of our wireless networks must be increased dramatically, before we implement the next generation of wireless innovation that will improve the lives for all Americans. The future of mobile applications for disabled Americans will include live-streaming video and other high-bandwidth activities. In order to deliver these innovations in a robust and reliable way, the United States Congress and the FCC must re-examine our spectrum policy.
• The FCC should consider the economic needs of disabled Americans. People with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed than the U.S population as a whole. The FCC should consider actions that would remove unnecessary cost barriers – particularly the incredibly regressive fees that are coupled with wireless phones – that put mobile broadband out of reach for those living at or near the poverty level. The impact of these taxes on adoption of increasingly essential services should be more carefully considered.

Our Bottom Line

Mobile broadband has the ability to enhance economic opportunities, expand access to education, and improve the quality of our healthcare – but perhaps more than any other of its benefits, it has an unparalleled ability to change the lives of people with disabilities.

For continued success, we need to maintain pro-investment policies, make additional wireless spectrum available, and encourage innovative collaboration to realize wireless’ tremendous potential to meet the unique accessibility needs of Americans with disabilities.