In 2023, the WHO stated that over 2 billion people in the world have some kind of disability, which means 1 in 4 people face more challenges in their lives than they should, and we cannot ignore them. How many great minds would we unknowingly sacrifice if we didn’t give them a fair chance to present their work? So, the need to focus on accessibility is imperative.
“My calling is creating compassionate empathy, not sympathy, not because it’s the legal thing to do or the right thing to do, again it about universal design and people of ability.”
Albert J. Rizzi from My Blind Spot
Some people might ask, what can we do to make things accessible? There isn’t a quick fix. It is a constant improvement process that involves small changes, making a better environment over time. One thing you can do is show people with disability professional courtesy, to quote Albert J. Rizzi from My Blind Spot, “My calling is creating compassionate empathy, not sympathy, not because it’s the legal thing to do or the right thing to do, again it about universal design and people of ability.”
Now to put the words into practice.
Making Accessibility Changes That Matter
One way to make a significant impact in the lives of many people with disabilities is in the workplace. Even today, many offices and websites around the world are not accessible. How could we change that? For a workplace, managers can make every area wheelchair accessible. Using ramps and elevators is a technique from the 1900s but is still quite useful. For websites, WCAG standards can be implemented during the design phase.
But remember, that’s the start and not the finish line. There is a constant need for creativity and new idea generation. But it is understandably not easy, so again the question arises, what must we do? What’s the solution?
The answer is people! People who are closest to the problem, i.e., people with disabilities can help with identifying the problems, which is usually the hardest phase in product design. If we make that process easier, we can introduce new ways to help disabled people.
Technology That Started With Accessibility
Unfortunately, there will be some who will rush to their keyboards to critique the approach of inclusivity. Instead of ignoring it, we should acknowledge it and prove its importance. The keyboard itself is a technology that was originally designed for people who couldn’t write, but today everyone is using it.
There are many of these examples. Ask yourself, would you like to walk up many flights of stairs or use an elevator? Consider the voice assistants that millions of people use to set an alarm clock or do mundane tasks which were also designed for the disabled.
The idea is that if you create a product that makes life easier for a person with a disability, chances are, you will make the lives of everyone easier.
Assistive Technology for a Better Tomorrow
Here are a few more technologies that follow this trend of usability and accessibility:
1. Meta Quest 3: A VR/AR headset that enables people to view and control a screen without the need to hold it in their hands or set up fixed equipment, and can be taken anywhere. The accessible design of the product is not only great for the disabled but is an attractive selling point for the average consumer due to its uniqueness and capabilities.
2. RoboDog (Solo8): It is a low-cost four-legged robot that can replicate complex functions like walking and jumping in various configurations (like a dog). With more research and applicable programming, it might be used as an accessibility device. https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/tecno-mobile-dynamic-1-ai-robot-dog-mwc-2024-news/
The possibilities are endless. We just need to take the initiative to bring in change and we can make our world a better place for everyone.
