I’m obsessively checking my Twitter feed for election updates, but I wanted to point to this Times article about Owen, a young boy with spinal muscular atrophy who has had some success using an iPad after other assistive technology devices proved unworkable. It’s great that he’s able to access the device, but I’m a little worried that Apple and other tablet manufacturers will use articles like this to claim their products are accessible out of the box. The touch interface simply doesn’t work for people with visual impairments and severe mobility impairments. Developers still have a long way to go before tablets are as adaptable as traditional computers. Owen’s physical capabilities are likely to change over time and it would be a shame if the iPad’s interface is incapable of making the necessary accommodations.
