Disability Drives Design

"Join us for 'Disability Drives Design', where we explore the importance of inclusive design for people with disabilities, and how it benefits everyone. Learn how to prioritize accessibility and challenge stereotypes."

Key takeaways
  • Designing for disabled people benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities
  • Disability is not inherently a flaw or something to be fixed, but a natural part of life
  • We often view disabled people as requiring special accommodations instead of designing products that are inherently accessible
  • Curb cuts, originally designed for wheelchair accessibility, have since been adopted universally for their convenience
  • Sterilizations and forced institutionalizations of disabled people were and continue to be forms of discrimination
  • The Social Model of Disability views disability as not just physical, but also arising from environmental and societal barriers
  • Design thinking should prioritize disability considerations from the beginning, rather than as an afterthought
  • Communicating with disabled individuals requires careful consideration of their language needs and power dynamics
  • Education and representation matter: Gallaudet University’s architecture curriculum includes course on accessible design
  • Surprise and experimentation can be valuable for pushing design innovation, but should also prioritize inclusive and accessible design principles