For some time now I have contemplated, as a design practitioner, is my perception of design for users inclusive, empathic and universal? This has been nagging at me for some time. Actually it’s been calling my name, “Psst. Lisa, you’re behind the curve in your understanding of designing the user experience for people that are, well, disabled.” Let me be more candid; my own perception of disabled people hasn’t been accurate, empathic or inclusive of the various impaired users attempting to access and benefit from the online world. My thinking on this topic needed a significant update, a DIY project in the making.
To start, I didn’t have an accurate definition of disabled people, nor of impairment. To my credit I had read the important book Design meets disability about two years ago. The author, Graham Pullin, raised my awareness of several issues and possibilities when designing for disabled people. For one, he helped me understand that disabled people is an appropriate expression “in the context of an environment or society that takes little or no account of impairment.” This is a troubling thought – “people disabled by the society they live in” due to the “designed” barriers and restrictions that limit participation in hmmm…life.
But there is good news and it’s emerging around us. Pullin believes design and disability “could inspire each other.” I agree and
I think it should inspire each other. Without a doubt, design solves a lot of challenges for people disenfranchised from activities that able-bodied people take for granted. One obvious example: not too long ago eyeglasses labeled a person medically disabled. With advances in design and technology, eyeglasses are now fashion statements worn by disabled people like me. Now design has taken eyewear one-step further with smart eyewear options from makers such as Google, Sony, GlassUp and more. As we speak, scientist Stephen Hicks and his colleagues at Oxford are testing their design for smart glasses for people with sight loss. This is exciting news.
Impaired by poor or inadequate design
I am encouraged by Pullin’s examples of the inroads design and technology are making in other areas of impairment. But that’s a conversation for another post. There is a message from his book that really made me pause. Who qualifies as a disabled person? Using Pullin’s definition, most of us would say, “That’s me?” So I ask, have there been times when you were impaired by poor, or inadequate, design (i.e., the ignorance of users’ diversity and difficulties)? I was disabled for a long time (and wasn’t aware) until a feature was introduced in automobile design. I love my Pathfinder because it has this handy button designed on the console that does something really wonderful. When I push it the gas and brake pedals move toward me; at 4’10” that’s a big difference in my user experience! I now drive like able-bodied (taller) drivers, with the steering wheel and the airbag a safe distance away from my head. Gratefully, the automobile design and tech community heard the vertically challenged and delivered a design (a solution) that has been meaningful to me, and others as well.
Design for user diversity
With an accurate perception, and more empathy, I set a goal to become knowledgeable about design for disabilities, or should I say design for inclusion, starting this year. To kick this off I attended the UIE Virtual Seminar Better accessibility through your user research by Whitney Quesenbery, the author of countless books and articles on subjects ranging from accessibility and usability techniques to personas and storytelling. Btw: I’ll be co-presenting a “10:10” on Quesenbery’s “Better accessibility” with Megan Jones on June 5.
And earlier this week I participated in AccessU Summit, a daylong online conference sponsored by Knowbility and
Environments for Humans. Both of these echoed some of the messages from Pullin. Mainly, as designers and technologists we need to broaden our perspective and redefine our thinking about designing for accessibility. Rather than designing for a certain ‘class’ of people, those with a diagnosed and/or medical impairment who might need assistive technologies, we should design for user diversity, and all the variations of capabilities, needs and aspirations of users. Quesenbery and Henny Swan, (Swan is an inclusive design consultant), both lead with this idea. Put people first and design for our differences, design for inclusion.
Dr. Don Norman reviewed Design meets disability, the reason I read Pullin’s book, and I agree with his take on it. When we get design right, it’s meaningful and useful for everyone, including disabled people like me.
Designing for accessibility does no one any favors
by Lisa McMichael on May 15th, 2015 | ~ minute read
