Understanding markets as online public places: Insights from consumers with visual impairments

Carol Kaufman-Scarborough, Terry L. Childers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

More than 20% of the U.S. population is composed of people with disabilities. When such people interact with certain marketplaces, such as commercial Web sites, some become "consumers with constraints," and others become liberated, experiencing the freedom to search for information independently for the first time. While accessibility in physical stores is mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, commercial Web sites do not fall under its jurisdiction, because they are not considered "public places." This research challenges this view and examines whether actual consumers interpret Web sites as public places. The authors examine this question in the context of experiences of consumers with visual impairments in online shopping. The authors apply the concepts of consumer normalcy and consumer vulnerability to the technology acceptance model as theoretical lenses through which to interpret this context. The findings form the basis for recommendations to policy makers to develop and enforce standards for Web site accessibility and to the marketplace to create a level playing field for people with visual impairments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)16-28
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Public Policy and Marketing
Volume28
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Business and International Management
  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Marketing

Keywords

  • Consumer behavior
  • Disability
  • Impairment
  • Online shopping
  • Retail
  • Web development

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