Design and Disability
Using a computer without adaptations causes several barriers to people who are blind (e.g., no visibility of the keyboard, no visibility of the resultant text on the screen), however this can be overcome by design. Below is an example of the type of assistive technology that can support people who are blind, which utilizes a refreshable braille display so the user can read the text that is displayed on their monitor. This is an example of removing a barrier that would otherwise prevent this person completing a task, and providing an alternate method (e.g., tactile instead of visual feedback) to complete the same task.
When accounting for disability and impairments in product and system design, there are a number of things to consider:
• Different types of disabilities and impairments: It is important to be familiar with the different types of disabilities and impairments that may be relevant to your work and to consider the specific needs of each group.
• The principles of universal design: Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. Familiarizing yourself with the principles of universal design can help you to design products and spaces that are accessible to a wide range of users.
• Accessibility guidelines and standards: There are a number of guidelines and standards that provide specific recommendations for designing products and spaces that are accessible to people with disabilities or impairments. Familiarizing yourself with these guidelines and standards can help you to ensure that your designs meet the necessary requirements.
• The role of assistive technology: Assistive technology can help to compensate for or overcome impairments and disabilities, and can be an important consideration in the design process. Understanding the types of assistive technology that are available and how they can be used can help you to design products and spaces that are compatible with assistive technology.