Preventing social exclusion for persons with disabilities through ICT based services

Abstract

The paper addresses opportunities that the fast diffusion of Information and Communication Technology is opening for people with different levels of physical restrictions, or disabilities. For these people mobile technology not only allows ubiquity for communications but also anytime access to some services that are vital for their security and autonomy thus preventing social exclusion. More specifically, the paper describes evaluation study and four developed ICT based services aimed to prevent social exclusion and ease everyday life of persons with disabilities. Findings of the study show that there is enormous need for the services aimed for disabled to promote their equal status in society.