design meets disability
DESCRIPTION
Sharon Rush's talk from Big Design Conference 2012. Sharon explains how designing for disability is another design requirement.TRANSCRIPT
Design Meets Disability
Big (D)esign 2011Sharron Rush
July 15
Good design is accessible design ~ Dr. John Slatin
Knowbility
• 501(c)3 nonprofit organization• Based in Austin Texas• Advocacy, training, and consulting for
accessible technology since 1998
AccessiblePeople with disabilities
…can acquire the same information…participate in the same activities
…be active producers
Why advocate for inclusive design?
Legal Technical
Market
Humanitarian Visionary
Legal Mandates
• International – UN Declaration on Rights of People with Disabilities
• Global requirements based on WCAG2• US Federal standards, Section 508• Other national laws• State and local laws
Demographic Forces• Number of people with disabilities is
growing• 55 million Americans / 1 billion
worldwide• Fortune: “$1 trillion annual market” in
US• $200 billion in discretionary spending• More as population ages
Improved technical performance
• Harmonize with global standards• Internationalization• Demonstrated ROI
How to advocate?
Depends on where you and company are…
• Develop policy with practices that support it• Assess legal risks in your industry• Form interest group• Hold information/demo sessions• Include people with disabilities• Participate in AIR (or start one)• Be honest
Steps to IT Accessibility
• Convene wide group of stakeholders
• Make commitment - adopt explicit policy
• Provide support, including training and internal resources
• Develop implementation plan
• Test, verify, repair – and use feedback loops
• Integrate into purchasing process
• Include people with disabilities
• Maintain timetable to evaluate and revise
Because we can!
• The Italian romanticPelligrino Turri
• Blind Countess that he loved Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzono
Typewriter
Telephone
• Alexander Graham Bell
• Mother and wife were deaf
Punch Card
• Non-text method for capturing data • An IBM founder• Herman Hollerith was learning
disabled
Design meets
disability today
Braingate research uses brain waves as UI controlWatch the subject control computer screen and prosthetic arm
LifeHand Project allows brain control of robotic armPierpaolo Petruzziello's amputated arm was connected to a robotic limb, allowing him to feel sensations and control the arm with his thoughts.
Mainstream Uses• Tan Le, cofounder• Emotiv neuro tech interface
Universal design
• Allows access by widest array of UI• Designing to standards allows
innovation• www.w3.org/WAI
A few examples…
• Austin Independent School District• Ticket Sales
• Southern California Edison• Financial Services
• University of California
Surprise! …the accessible iPhoneApple accessibility came late, but is changing the paradigm of disability and tech
Screenshot of Knowbility AccessWorks signup page
Let’s Talk
Image of phone made of tin cans
Please stay in touch…
[email protected] 305-0310Twitter: @knowbilityFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/knowbility
Thank you!