Get Uncomfortable with the Tech Access Initiative

Architect and designer Katerina Kamprani creates models of poorly redesigned everyday objects in her Uncomfortable collection. This is not a diss at her skills. Rather, it is an invitation to see everyday objects as functional tools we unknowingly take for granted and reinforce the universality of use for the device.

She offers rain boots with holes in the bottom and a metal fork with a chain in the middle.

The usefulness of physical material objects is practically invisible until visionaries like Katerina show us how wrongly designed objects can impede day-to-day life. Her subversive redesigns are often humorous but always poignant. In her mind, these everyday objects are an invitation to see the hidden logic of everyday items.

I would equate Katerina's conceptual art with the heart of the Tech Access Initiativegoals. We want consumer technology designs to work well for everyone. People with mobility disabilities are confronted by designs not built for them in consumer electronic goods and services. Put blankly: they should not have to work harder to use a device because it was not made with them in mind. The Tech Access Initiative seeks to provide the "why" and "how" to solve this.

Most people did not see email as a tool to replace long-distance letter writing until they heard AOL's "You Got Mail!" for the first time. Silicon Valley was built on revolutionizing how people access information or communicate with each other. Yet, disabled users were all too often forgotten in the digital communication revolution.

Not anymore. The movement to break down barriers and create inclusive user experiences is stronger than ever. Companies now invest millions in research and development to ensure that everyone-regardless of ability-has the opportunity to work, play, and thrive with the latest technology. United Spinal's Tech Access Council is at the forefront, driving the future of equitable design for all.

Designing rain boots with open toes is like designing anything without a disability perspective.

Best intentions and all of that

But we are not at the pot of gold yet.

Often, technology specifically designed for adaptive use falls short of expectations. Ironically, these tools-intended to empower and improve accessibility-can become the worst offenders regarding usability and connectivity. Many rely on outdated technology or proprietary systems that struggle to integrate with mainstream devices. This creates frustrating barriers for users who depend on them for independence and functionality. We cannot blame them too much. Adaptive technology often operates within smaller budgets, leading to products that lag in innovation, compatibility, and ease of use.

Another problem prevalent in the industry has bigger ramifications. Every level of technical complexity can be added to a device with the most user-generated design ambitions, and it may still be inaccessible if the Disability Perspectiveis not part of the equation. I remember this was especially visible when tech devices were all charged with a micro-USB connector. In hindsight, its design may have been created with the same vision as Katerina's uncomfortable objects.

The micro-USB was designed to solve a problem we had back in the '00s. Consumers needed one charger to rule them all-that is to say, one charger to power all our devices. Design manufacturers also felt they needed a smaller port since electronic devices were getting smaller. So, they readily adopted micro-USB as their path to charging the device.

In hindsight, its small size and tricky alignment made it difficult for many people, especially those with limited dexterity, to charge their devices. A technology created for everyone to use actually excluded a broad swathe of people. This design choice resembles Katerina's "uncomfortable objects," highlighting how products can unintentionally create barriers when real user experiences aren't considered. True accessibility requires including diverse perspectives at every design stage-not as an afterthought but as a priority.

Enter the Tech Access Group

The Tech Access Group plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of inclusive technology by ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities are addressed from the very beginning of the design process. Through focus groups, user testing, co-design sessions, and product feedback, the group provides valuable insights that help developers understand real-world challenges and create solutions that work for everyone.

By collaborating directly with consumers who use mobility devices, the Tech Access initiative helps bridge the gap between innovation and accessibility. This proactive approach ensures that technological devices and services are functional, usable, and empowering for individuals with diverse needs, driving a future where accessibility is built in-not bolted on.

Let's get uncomfortable together for a more accessible future.

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