Who benefits from assistive technology?

I was tooling around Microsoft's web site, looking for info on installing Windows XP, and came upon some good stuff on accessibility. One very readable article by Sharon Crawford (May 23, 2003 -- a little dated, but still good) had helpful info about using the built-in accessibility features in Windows XP including screen shots of how to configure some of the features.

At the end of her article was a link to the Microsoft Accessibility Web site, with links to Accessibility Tutorials for a bunch of Windows programs (Word, Outlook, IE, etc.) as well as to 2 research studies about accessible technology.

With the average age of the American worker increasing over time, the studies found that the average age of computer users is rising. The researchers also found that 57% (74.2 million) of computer users between the ages of 18 - 24 are likely or very likely "to benefit from the use of accessible technology due to experiencing mild to severe difficulties or impairments."

Microsoft, which commissioned the studies, states that "There is a strategic business opportunity for IT companies to improve technology optimism, and perhaps customer satisfaction with their own products, by developing more accessible technology for computers." In other words, look for the accessible or assistive technology market to become bigger and more mainstream in the years ahead.