from independence to interdependence: a social narrative of assistive technology
TRANSCRIPT
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from Independenceto InterdependenceA Social Narrative of Assistive Technology
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Stacy Branham
@branhammertim
e
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Virginia Tech - BS in CS
Virginia Tech - PhD in HCI
UMBC - Lecturer in Info. Sys. & CSEE
where I’m coming from
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COMP
101
what I do there
teaching, service research
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Assistive Technology (AT) research and design
is universally motivated by independence
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My research on everyday experiences of blind
people reveals misconceptions and limitations
of the independence frame in computing
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I propose interdependence as a complementary
frame for AT research and design
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the Independent Living Movement
civil rights violations,
e.g., US eugenics movement
calls from disabilities activists:
(1) for self-determination
(2) for end to institutionalization
the independence frame grew out of denial of basic civil rights to people with disabilities
protesting forced sterilization Ed Roberts, father ILM
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V-Braille (Jayant et al., 2010)
Slide rule (Kane et al., 2008)
(McDonald et al., 2014)
independence tools,
aka Assistive Technology (AT)the 20th century saw development of AT that supports independence
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the adoption of “independence” in HCI
“
(Wobbrock et al., 2011)
All accessible computing
approaches share a
common goal of improving
independence…”
in SIGCHI and particularly SIGACCESS, we agree that independence is a fundamental goal
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the implicit interpretation of independence in HCIthe products of AT research and design suggest independence is interpreted narrowly
assumptions:
(1) this task is best donesolo, w/ tech.
(2) social context does NOT affect adoption / use
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an exemplar of AT research & design in HCImany AT prototypes are meant for one user, studied in isolated / laboratory settings
(Oh, Branham, Findlater, Kane, 2015)
assumptions:
(1) this task is best donesolo, w/ tech.
(2) social context does NOT affect adoption / use
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mobile AT in the wild(Kane et al., 2009)
stigma and AT adoption(Shinohara & Wobbrock, 2011)
collaboration on navigation tasks(Williams et al., 2014)
the beginnings of an “Assistive-CSCW”the products of AT research and design suggest independence is interpreted narrowly
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Kenneth Jernigan’s “independence”a prominent blind individual explains independence is about self-determination
“
(Jernigan, 1993)
There are times when refusing
to take an arm that is offered
may constitute the very
opposite of independence.”
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Assistive Technology (AT) research and design
is universally motivated by independence
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collaborative accessibility, exhibit Aaccessibility is co-produced with others
(Branham & Kane, CHI 2015)
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accessibility is co-produced with others
collaborative accessibility, exhibit B
(Branham & Kane, CHI 2015)
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collaborative accessibility, exhibit Caccessibility is co-produced with others
(Branham & Kane, CHI 2015)
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collaborative accessibility, exhibit D
“ In some cases, the social solution––as opposed
to a technical solution––is not only as adequate,
it can sometimes be better. It can be more
enjoyable to do something socially.”
social / collaborative solutions are sometimes preferable (if not unavoidable)
(Branham & Kane, CHI 2015)
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assumption:
(1) this task is best accomplished solo, w/ tech
Participants regularly and naturally
practiced collaborative
accessibility with family and
friends. Often, that was preferred.
study finding:
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invisible work, exhibit Ait can be challenging to practice collaborative accessibility with colleagues
(Branham & Kane, ASSETS 2015)(Branham & Kane, CHI 2015)
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invisible work, exhibit Bit can be challenging to practice collaborative accessibility with colleagues
“ It’s interruptive [for sighted
colleagues] … to keep the
VoiceOver on … so I’ll turn it off.”(Branham & Kane, ASSETS 2015)
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invisible work, exhibit Csighted colleagues are relatively unaware of challenges faced by blind colleagues
(Branham & Kane, ASSETS 2015)
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X
25%
invisible work, exhibit Csighted colleagues are relatively unaware of challenges faced by blind colleagues
(Branham & Kane, ASSETS 2015)
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47%
?
invisible work, exhibit Csighted colleagues are relatively unaware of challenges faced by blind colleagues
(Branham & Kane, ASSETS 2015)
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9%
invisible work, exhibit Csighted colleagues are relatively unaware of challenges faced by blind colleagues
(Branham & Kane, ASSETS 2015)
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invisible work, exhibit Dworkplace access issues were resolved by reaching out to the blind community
“ Social networking offers one
kind of answer to [sharing tips and
tricks with other blind people].”(Branham & Kane, ASSETS 2015)(Branham & Kane, ASSETS 2015)
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(Branham, Abdolrahmani, Easley, Scheuerman, Ronquillo, & Hurst, ASSETS 2017)
(Abdolrahmani, Easley, Williams, Branham, & Hurst, CHI 2017)
(Scheuerman, Easley, Abdolrahmani, Hurt, Branham, CHI EA 2017)
(Abdolrahmani, Easley, Williams, Ronquillo, Branham, Chen, Hurst, ASSETS EA 2016)
(Easley, Williams, Abdolrahmani, Galbraith, Branham, Hurst, Kane, CHI EA 2016)
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(Abdolrahmani, Easley, Williams, Branham, & Hurst, CHI 2017)
device errors, exhibit Awhen AT devices make errors, users were surprisingly accepting
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“ [The device error] would call
attention to myself.
Friends or family … won’t judge.
[In other settings]––like school or
working or on a date––you don't
want to embarrass yourself....
“
”
”
(Abdolrahmani, Easley, Williams, Branham, & Hurst, CHI 2017)
device errors, exhibit A, (cont’d)users indicated lower acceptance when device errors made them conspicuous or projected disability
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assumption:
(2) social context doesn’t affect adoption/use
Participants regularly had to stop
using assistive devices and
techniques that work in other
social settings.
study finding:
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My research on everyday experiences of blind
people reveals misconceptions and limitations
of the independence frame in computing
![Page 34: From Independence to Interdependence: A Social Narrative of Assistive Technology](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a648b907f8b9a94568b4acd/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
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This growing body of work shows that
accessibility is not embedded in the
device or even in the user’s interaction
with the device. It is produced socially.
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independence inter
what about interdependence?how might an interdependence frame push to the center and the margins of AT design?
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claim 1:
In HCI, independence is construed as “doing by oneself”, not as
“self-determination.” The term “independence” has baggage:
“Western industrial societies’ … understanding of
independence is influenced by views of …
personal autonomy stemming from the
Enlightenment philosophy… a reformulation of
the subject as both embedded and embodied,
bears better to a sociology of disablement.”
(Goggin & Newell, 2006; Carnaby, 1998; Reindal, 1999;
White et al., 2010)
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claim 2:
No one is independent in the strict sense of the word:
“[There’s this] false idea that the 'able-
bodied' person is somehow radically self-
sufficient … we're all interdependent in all
sorts of ways” - Judith Butler
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“Interdependency is not just me ‘dependent
on you.’ It is not you, the benevolent
oppressor, deciding to ‘help’ me. …
Interdependency is both “you and I” and
“we.” It is solidarity, in the best sense of
the word. … Because the truth is: we need
each other.” - Mia Mingus
claim 3:
The independence frame can reify isolating, disempowering
narratives, while interdependence can integrate and empower:
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claim 4:
independence will not help us invent all the (assistive)
technologies we need:
claim 4:
independence will not help us invent all the (assistive)
technologies we need:
AT that
empowers
personal safety
management
AT that supports
protestors who
engage with law
enforcement
AT that
negatively
affects other
marginalized
groups
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e.g., (Zolyomi et al., 2017)
e.g., (Branham & Kane, 2015) e.g., (Rector et al., 2015)
e.g., (Abdolrahmani et al., 2016)
Env. Safety &
Obstacle
AvoidanceEmergency
Services & Alarms
Health-Risk
Mediation
Device-Oriented
Safety
Interpersonal
Safety
overlooked opportunity A:
AT for Personal Safety Managementwhat opportunities are there to support physical interpersonal safety (for people with disabilities)?
(Branham, Abdolrahmani, Easley, Scheuerman, Ronquillo, & Hurst, ASSETS 2017)
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overlooked opportunity A:
AT for Personal Safety Management (cont’d)what opportunities are there to support physical interpersonal safety (for people with disabilities)?
(Branham, Abdolrahmani, Easley, Scheuerman, Ronquillo, & Hurst, ASSETS 2017)
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overlooked opportunity B:
AT for Engaging with Law Enforcementwhat opportunities are there to support safe, effective interactions with police (for activists with disabilities)?
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overlooked opportunity C:
AT that oppresses other marginalized groups how do needs of, e.g., blind and gender-nonconforming communities overlap and conflict?
(Hamidi, Scheuerman, & Branham, CHI 2018)
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Assistive Technology (AT) research and design
is universally motivated by independence
![Page 46: From Independence to Interdependence: A Social Narrative of Assistive Technology](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a648b907f8b9a94568b4acd/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
My research on everyday experiences of blind
people reveals misconceptions and limitations
of the independence frame in computing
![Page 47: From Independence to Interdependence: A Social Narrative of Assistive Technology](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022070605/5a648b907f8b9a94568b4acd/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
I propose interdependence as a complementary
frame for AT research and design
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"You all are only just temporarily
abled. You become us in the end."
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thank you
+
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Stacy Branham
@branhammertime
Amy
Hurst
Morgan
Scheuerman
William
Easley
Ali
AbdolrahmaniErick
RonquilloStacy
BranhamShaun
Kane
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fear and insecurity
rebellious independence
normal independence
a prominent blind individual’s take on independence
Kenneth Jernigan’s “stages of independence”
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Amélie - “Helping A Blind Man”
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but, “independence” doesn’t account for:
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social solutions are OK sometimes
far less than 100% error-free solutions may be OK
consider how to facilitate (mixed-ability) collaboration
be aware of how your preconceptions, devices, andtesting methods impact the narratives people withdisabilities can tell with their assistive devices
for the builders: