Universal Design
header photo by Erika WittliebUniversal Design
Students will
Students will
Integrate the both of the Universal Design Methods Listed Below
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Overview: We Are All Affected by Disability
Overview: We Are All Affected by Disability
It’s not unusual for us to think that disability is something that affects a small number of people. However, that is far from the truth. When I decided to commit to accessible design for media, the first thing I did was try to find out just who these folks are. I was surprised at the depth and breadth of who we need to design for and just how connected I am to them personally. And, that sometimes, temporarily, I am one of them.
I asked 118 random persons; Do you or anyone you know have any of the following conditions?
I asked 118 random persons; Do you or anyone you know have any of the following conditions?
On average, 49% of the time, the answer was yes. Disabled persons are not ‘the other’. They are us, our families, our friends, our colleagues.
Here are the results of the survey
Vision Impairment: 57%
Color Blindness: 49%
Migraines: 62%
Hearing Impairment: 55%
Cognitive Learning Disability: 75%
Speech Impediment: 25%
Partial or No Hand Function: 21%
What is Universal Design?
What is Universal Design?
The universal design approach goes beyond the technical requirements for the accommodation of persons with disabilities and towards their full participation in the ongoing social fabric of the world in which we all live. Universal design allows people of all abilities to experience media together, at the same time, in the same place, on the same channel.
Universal design integrates accessibility features in a way fully-sensed persons can also benefit. Research has shown that optimizing technical attainability, sensory responsiveness, and cognitive load improves learning and retention for all sensory abilities.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes access to information as a human right. This convention was ratified by 180 countries including the U.S. The I-See-U blueprint aims to provide that access in a qualitatively equal manner for all persons.
These are important differentiating factors between Accessible and Universal design. Accessible Design, is the technical minimum accommodation required by laws such as the Americans With Disabilities Act. It allows for the separation of the disabled from their abled counterparts when consuming media. It does not ask for equal quality, and in fact allows for separate and unequal media experience for persons with disabilities. Lastly, it also does not integrate accessibility features into media in a manner in which fully-sensed persons can also benefit.
Photo Illustration by Bill Fischer
Universal Design Methods for This Project
Universal Design Methods for This Project
[1] Integrated Audio Descriptions for Deaf & Hearing Impaired Persons
[1] Integrated Audio Descriptions for Deaf & Hearing Impaired Persons
These eliminate the need for added narration which are typically hurried and interrupt the natural flow of the video, animation, or film. This I-See-U specific approach aims to create an experience that sight, hearing, and cognitively impaired persons can organically experience together. One that is optimized to provide a quality experience for all, at the same time, in the same place. They're designed for accessibility from the start, they flow with the action, they make time for the audio descriptions and their organic integrations eliminate the stigmatization that blind and sight impaired persons can experience when watching with sighted persons.
Detailed methods and examples for creating Integrated Audio Descriptions (external link)
[2] Integrated Captions for Blind & Sight-Impaired Persons
[2] Integrated Captions for Blind & Sight-Impaired Persons
These eliminate the need for added captions which are typically hurried and interrupt the natural flow of the video, animation, or film. This I-See-U specific approach aims to create an experience that sight, hearing, and cognitively impaired persons can organically experience together. One that is optimized to provide a quality experience for all, at the same time, in the same place. They're designed for accessibility from the start, they flow with the action, they're integrated and make time for viewers to both read the captions and watch the action. Their organic integrations eliminate the stigmatization that blind and sight impaired persons can experience when watching with sighted persons.
Detailed methods and examples for creating Integrated Captions (external link)
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