Computers and the internet at large have been a boon to the estimated 500 million people worldwide who are disabled. The technology has broken down barriers and provided the physically and mentally challenged access to people and information they might otherwise never reach.

With this in mind, it isn't surprising that adults with disabilities reportedly spend twice as much time online as adults without disabilities, and almost half of disabled web surfers say that the internet has significantly improved their quality of life (Harris Poll 2000). However, practical and financial limitations have restricted access to the internet and to computer technology in general for millions of disabled Americans; only one-quarter of people with disabilities even use a computer, and a mere one-tenth go online. Depending on the capabilities required, the equipment and applications necessary to outfit a disabled person with an adaptive computer system...