Ability-Based Design: Concept, Principles and Examples

  • Authors:
  • Jacob O. Wobbrock;Shaun K. Kane;Krzysztof Z. Gajos;Susumu Harada;Jon Froehlich

  • Affiliations:
  • University of Washington;University of Washington;Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences;University of Washington;University of Washington

  • Venue:
  • ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS)
  • Year:
  • 2011

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Abstract

Current approaches to accessible computing share a common goal of making technology accessible to users with disabilities. Perhaps because of this goal, they may also share a tendency to centralize disability rather than ability. We present a refinement to these approaches called ability-based design that consists of focusing on ability throughout the design process in an effort to create systems that leverage the full range of human potential. Just as user-centered design shifted the focus of interactive system design from systems to users, ability-based design attempts to shift the focus of accessible design from disability to ability. Although prior approaches to accessible computing may consider users’ abilities to some extent, ability-based design makes ability its central focus. We offer seven ability-based design principles and describe the projects that inspired their formulation. We also present a research agenda for ability-based design.