L: Accessible Design Processes and Resources
- Introduction
- L-1. What are the current design processes?
- L-2. What changes are required to the current design processes as a result of 255/508?
- L-3. What are the barriers to implementing the changes to the design processes?
- L-4. What tools are available to designers?
- L-5. What resources are available to support Accessible Design?
Introduction
The current accessible design process is very similar to the process employed by user-centered design in that it begins with the users and involves testing, evaluation, and iterative design (Lund & Tschirgi, n.d.). A primary difference from traditional user-centered design, however, is the inclusion of a wide range of abilities to be accommodated by the design features of the finished product (Vanderheiden, 1997), whereas traditional user-centered design has applied to "general" user populations (Bergman, 1995). Federal regulations require that designers of commercial products extend their definition of the user population to include people with disabilities where "readily achievable" (Access Board, 1998; Austin, et al, 1998; TIA, 1998). This would involve designing accessible products from the outset, rather than retrofitting products with the appropriate, often costly and unappealing, adjustments to make them accessible.
The most prevalent barrier to implementing this fundamental change to the design process is lack of awareness among industry designers regarding the needs of the currently underrepresented populations (elderly, disabled, foreign) and how even individuals from the mainstream population may experience similar needs at any time (Bergman, 1995). Second, there exist several myths regarding the prevalence of functional limitations, the applicability of relatively minor design changes to alleviating functional limitations, and the cost associated with making such design changes (InClude, 1999). Finally, there are barriers associated with the natures of industrial practices and regulation itself (Clark, n.d.; Lund & Tschirgi, n.d.).
There are, however, several tools and resources made available to designers through the efforts made by both European and American leaders in accessible design, such as Microsoft, the Trace Center, and the European Commission (European Commission, 1998; Microsoft, n.d.; Vanderheiden, 1997). These tools and resources list the principles of universal design, describe the design process, and present several general design guidelines for improving the accessibility of commercial products. In addition, they present useful guides for performing a needs assessment and checklists for design evaluation (IBM, n.d.; Monterey Technologies, Inc., 1996). Further, design guidelines for specific products are also available (Adobe Systems, Inc., 1999; Brodin, et al, 1999; Mercinelli, n.d.; Red Hat, 1997).
L-1. What are the current design processes?
The current processes in accessible design are similar to those in user-centered design, except that accessible design considers a much broader range of potential users during the design process (Vanderheiden, 1997). That is, rather than considering the "average user," accessible design attempts to design for every user. However, like the user-centered design process, the accessible design process involves iterative stages, testing, and evaluation (Lund & Tschirgi, n.d.). As Sections 255 and 508 require increased accessibility, the design processes of accessible design are ideal for meeting federal regulations.
Christenson, M. A.. (n.d.). Roadblocks to incorporating universal design. Proceedings, Designing for the 21st Century II: An International Conference on Universal Design. Boston: Adaptive Environments Center.
Clarkson, P. J., & Keates, S. (2000). I-design project (inclusive design for the whole population). Proceedings, Designing for the 21st Century II: An International Conference on Universal Design. Boston: Adaptive Environments Center.
Donnelly, B. F. (n.d.). Universal design and regulation - A good business strategy. Proceedings, Designing for the 21st Century II: An International Conference on Universal Design. Boston: Adaptive Environments Center.
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Vanderheiden, G. C. (1997). Design for people with functional limitations resulting from disability, aging, and circumstance. In G. Salvendy (Ed.), Handbook of human factors and ergonomics (2nd Ed., pp. 2010-2052). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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L-2. What changes are required to the current design processes as a result of 255/508?
Several changes to current design processes are required as a result of Section 255 and Section 508. These changes include involving people with disabilities in marketing research and early phases of design, designing for multiple input and output modalities, and testing with users with disabilities.
Access Board. (2001). Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794(d)). (1998). Retrieved January 8, 2001 from the World Wide Web: Click here to go to this resource. (http://www.access-board.gov/about/
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Austin, M., Chen, P., Doering, J., Mayers, H.A., Oleson, L., Turner, S., & Vinson, N. (1998). Universal access and universal service: Lowering the barriers to entry into cyberspace. Unpublished manuscript, Harvard University. Retrieved January 8, 2001 from the World Wide Web:
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Strategic Policy Research. (1998). An evaluation of the Access Board's accessibility guidelines. Bethesda, MD: Strategic Policy Research.
TIA. Comments of the Telecommunications Industry Association. (June 30, 1998). Washington, D.C.: Telecommunications Industry Association.
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L-3. What are the barriers to implementing the changes to the design processes?
Resistance to making the shift to designing for every user instead of the average user originates from negative attitudes in industry toward regulation (e.g., see Clark, 2000) and lack of interest/awareness regarding making products accessible to people with disabilities (e.g., Trace Center, n.d.). Educational practices in accessible design do not always serve to remove these barriers (Morrow, 2000). Once awareness increases, however, interest often follows (European Commission, 1998).
Austin, M., Chen, P., Doering, J., Mayers, H.A., Oleson, L., Turner, S., & Vinson, N. (1998). Universal access and universal service: Lowering the barriers to entry into cyberspace. Unpublished manuscript, Harvard University. Retrieved January 8, 2001 from the World Wide Web:
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/ltac98/access.html
Clark, R. (n.d.). Universal design and regulation - A zero-sum game. Proceedings, Designing for the 21st Century II: An International Conference on Universal Design. Boston: Adaptive Environments Center.
NCD. Comments to the Federal Communications Commission. (June 30, 1998). National Council on Disability. Retrieved January 8, 2001 from the World Wide Web:
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Strategic Policy Research. (1998). An evaluation of the Access Board's accessibility guidelines. Bethesda, MD: Strategic Policy Research.
TIA. Comments of the Telecommunications Industry Association. (June 30, 1998). Washington, D.C.: Telecommunications Industry Association.
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L-4. What tools are available to designers?
Like designers practicing user-centered design, designers practicing accessible design have tools available to help them in the prototyping (Greenberg, 2000; Lamancusa, 2000), construction (Meyers, 1997; Sun Microsystems, n.d.), and evaluation phases (IBM, n.d.; Monterey Technologies, 1996; Montoya-Weiss, et al, 2000) of design. Examples of prototyping tools include Windows Paint and SILK, which aid in developing paper-based sketches, and PICTIVE, which aids in participatory design and the development of low-fidelity prototypes. There exist several others, which aid in the development of computerized, high-fidelity prototypes and interface development (see Meyers, 1997). Product construction tools include Java Foundation Classes, which are specifically designed to aid developers in constructing internet, intranet, and desktop applications (Sun Microsystems, n.d.). Finally, various resources provide checklists and guidelines for evaluation methods that aid in the evaluation of design accessibility (IBM, n.d.; Monterey Technologies, 1996; Montoya-Weiss, et al, 2000).
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http://www.sun.com/980316/enablingtech/
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L-5. What resources are available to support Accessible Design?
There are several resources available to help designers apply accessible design principles during the design process, including books, handbook chapters, conference proceedings, and web sites. The federal government provides extensive online information on legislation regarding access for people with disabilities (e.g., the Access Board web site), which must be reviewed in order to maximize compliance. In addition, organizations advocating accessible design, such as the Trace Center in Wisconsin, Europe's COST 219 and InClude, and the Center for Accessible Design at North Carolina State University provide online resources regarding accessible design principles and guidelines. Such guidelines in printed form can be found in human factors handbooks, such as Vanderheiden (1997). Further, companies already using accessible design principles in their design practice, such as Microsoft, IBM, Sun Microsystems, and Pacific Bell, provide information on their accessibility policies, relevant federal legislation, and design guidelines on specific commercial products.
Disability advocacy groups, such as CODI, the National Association for the Deaf, RNIB, and SHHH provide a great deal of online information on needs and access limitations of users with disabilities, which need to be incorporated into accessible products. Books or chapters, such as Fisk & Rogers (1997), King (1999), and Scherer and Galvin (1997) also provide useful information about the aged and disabled populations' functional capabilities and needs. Information about cutting edge developments in technology, such as haptic or auditory displays, voice interactive interfaces, and gesture-recognition displays that provide potential opportunities to accommodate functional limitations and increase accessibility can be found both online and in conference proceedings (e.g., Edwards, 1998; Martin, et al, 1996; Tanaka, 2000; Wexelblat, 1998).
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Clarkson, P. J., & Keates, S. (2000). I-design project (inclusive design for the whole population). Proceedings, Designing for the 21st Century II: An International Conference on Universal Design. Boston: Adaptive Environments Center.
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IBM. Interacting with people that have disabilities. Retrieved, December 15, 2000, from the World Wide Web: http://www-3.ibm.com/able/hr/interact.html
InClude. (1999, December). Handbook on Inclusive Design of Telematics Applications (Sections 1 through 3). Retrieved December 12, 2000, from the World Wide Web:
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Mercinelli, M. (COST219). Guidelines-Accessibility requirements for new telecommunication equipment. Retrieved December 12, 2000, from the World Wide Web:
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Microsoft. Accessibility Homepage. Retrieved, December 15, 2000, from the World Wide Web:
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Vanderheiden, G. C. (1997). Design for people with functional limitations resulting from disability, aging, and circumstance. In G. Salvendy (Ed.), Handbook of human factors and ergonomics (2nd Ed., pp. 2010-2052). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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