contributions
everyone
has
disability
Accessible design isn’t just
designing for a minority group
who identify as having a
permanent ongoing impairment.
Accessibility is about designing
for diverse user needs and it
benefits everyone, because
everyone has disability, writes
Heidi Laidler.
With the increased awareness
the same all of the time. People’s something permanent or ongoing.
needs are fluid – and among many Disability can be the result of
things, they can vary depending illness, environment or an activity.
on each person’s surroundings,
activities or illnesses. A user
may be able to perform a task or migraine. Disability = Vision
perceive information in a certain impairment, as unable to look
way in one context, but not be at a screen.
able to in another. To illustrate this
point, here are some examples:
Situation: Using your mobile
phone while in the sun at the
around user experience, most newly- beach. Disability = Reduced colour
developed products, apps and vision due to sun glare.
websites undergo usability testing
throughout the design process. Yet,
Temporary state: Broken arm.
Disability = Mobility impairment
as must rely on only one arm.
Temporary state: Ear infection.
Disability = Reduced hearing or
hearing loss.
Situation: Making a phone call
there is a significant limitation to while driving. Disability = Vision Designing for accessibility allows
this testing, if it’s not done across a impairment as you must pay users to overcome these contextual
diverse range of people. attention to your surroundings and and temporary limitations through
cannot look at your phone. allowing them to interact with
Generally, usability testing is Disability = Mobility impairment, as products, applications and websites
conducted in a testing environment you must use both hands to drive in flexible ways.
– usually a small, quiet space with and cannot touch your phone.
chairs and maybe a desk. Each user
is able to focus on performing the
required tasks without contextual
For helpful advice and information
Situation: Using your phone while
standing on a busy bus or train.
on how to ensure that your online
apps and digital communications
variables – and in this environment, Disability = Mobility impairment, are accessible to people of all
the needs of users are fixed. as one arm is required to hold on abilities, visit mediaaccess.org.au ,
to keep balance. an organisation dedicated to web
and digital access for those with a
However, outside of testing
disability.
environments, user needs are not And here are some examples of fixed, they’re not the same for temporary disabilities – which every person, they’re not the same serve to demonstrate that the term Heidi Laidler is a former User Experience
in every context, and they’re not ‘disability’ doesn’t always refer to Designer with Media Access Australia.
Send your letters and contributions to Link Editor, Inprint
Design, 1B Laffer Drive, Bedford Park SA 5042 or email it to
[email protected].
Please include your postal address (not for publication). Letters
should be a maximum of 200 words and may be edited for
brevity and clarity.
14
Temporary state: Light sensitive
contributions
By contributing a letter you authorise Link to publish it in the magazine or
www.linkonline.com.au. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. All published
contributions earn the author a free copy of the magazine, containing the letter (or
current subscribers may specify that they would prefer their free magazine as an
extension of their current subscription), provided a postal address is included with
the original letter. Your name, suburb and state will be published with your letter
unless you specify otherwise.
linkonline.com.au