Future Impact Barrier

A type of access barrier where a task can be completed in the present without difficulty, but doing so will cause negative consequences in the future, such as triggering a migraine, causing cumulative pain, or depleting limited resources like energy or assistive technology credits. A person may still consider a task inaccessible even when they can do it now, because they anticipate harmful future effects. Technology can address future impact barriers by helping people perform tasks in ways that avoid future costs, or by helping them prepare for anticipated consequences.