This is part of CNET's "Tech Enabled" series about the role technology plays in helping the disability community.

When the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, the internet wasn't yet a critical part of our lives. We weren't connected to it 24/7, and we didn't rely on it to handle everyday tasks and provide a steady stream of information.

Times have changed. Today, we depend on the internet to carry out a variety of functions, from paying our bills to booking travel to keeping in touch with family and friends. Just about every resource is accessible with the touch of a button, and it's become nearly impossible to separate the digital world from the physical. But for people with disabilities, who make up around 15% of the global population, accessibility hurdles continue to prevent them from fully reaping the benefits of 21st century innovation.