A review: accessible technology through participatory design

Abstract

Purpose

The literature review presents a conceptual participatory design through accessibility technology solutions, considering the design experience to be an essential factor in communication processes. Technologies must assess a wide range of disabilities based on characterisations that helps daily activities. This work includes collaboration concepts to assist in the development of accessible technology. Collaborative design requires the fostering of communication between actors involved in the design process.

Methods

This work implemented with a protocol of guidelines developed by a group of experts in disability research. The relevant literature is included and assessed based on three categories: accessibility, assistive technologies, and participatory design.

Results

A knowledge gap can be identified: the development of assistive technology processes should enhance the voice of participants and consider their ideas, desires and needs.

Conclusions

Multidisciplinary communication is necessary to identify problems and propose solutions, and it is essential that people with disabilities collaborate with experts from a range of disciplines to identify problem-solving patterns.

Implications for rehabilitation

• A participatory design can develop a holistic understanding of the participant’s motivation and rehabilitation needs. This has provided a grounded basis to offer information about the assistive technology design.

• A participatory work provides information about the technology design which may finally result in a better understanding of rehabilitation, other types of home-based healthcare or the gamification for rehabilitation.

• The rehabilitation professionals can explore requirements of a customised technology for users, which allows to transfer knowledge about disabilities and skills in rehabilitation to people with disabilities, their families and communities.

• The notion of a research problem in rehabilitation can be re-evaluated through a participatory design process that attempts to capture the subjective experiences of persons with disability.

Keywords:

• Accessibility
• assistive technologies
• participatory design
• disability
• multidisciplinary

Acknowledgements

The author thank for contributions to the meaning of this work to the tutor, Juan Diego Gallego Gómez, PhD. In the same way, their voices contributions to the initial reviewers’, professors Adriana Gómez, PhD, and Walter Castañeda, PhD. Also, to PhD classmates Widman Valbuena and Edgard Rincón of University of Caldas who gave the author a wider view of this work.

Also, thanks to the institutions that contributed to the discussions about educational and research practices on disability issues, professor Dora Munévar, PhD, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and professor Lida Gil, M.S., Universidad Autónoma de Manizales. The government’s position regarding assistive technologies, through Andrea González, Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, was of significant contribution to this work.

Finally, the author express gratitude to OKA Consultores for manuscript editing service.

Disclosure statement

The author reports no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Militar Nueva Granada University.