8
Nick Tullos
October 23, 2003
Term Paper
The Design and Communication process for the Sensory and Mentally Disabled
ABSTRACT
Communication is the key to all processes. Communication is a must when designing products for the disabled and for training disable users. With the design process you must understand the client’s need to be successful. The communication process with non-disabled people is very simple, we do this daily, but it can be a difficult task with disabled people if you, as the engineer, do not understand their disability. Once you understand the disability a person has, you will be able to communicate better with them. In today’s growing technological world, there is an increase need for better communication with the many people with disabilities. Most product companies do not take the disabled into consideration when designing their software or products. This paper is going to discuss the process of communication and designing software or products, or simply making existing products easier for the disabled to use and understand. This paper has a fairly large scope, but after reading this paper you should have a broad understanding of the communication process and the ability to learn more on a specific disability. This process is not only important for engineer, but also if you have coworkers or family members that are disabled.
INTRODUCTION
The best way to design products or manuals for the disabled is to learn more about their specific problem. The more the engineer understands about their daily routine and special needs, the better the engineer can create a product for a specific situation. One of the hardest barriers to overcome is the communication process between the designer and the user. If you cannot communication an idea properly, then you will never be successful. This concept not only applies to communicating with the disabled, but this also applies in communication with everyone.
COMMUNICATION PROCESS
Figure 1
The communication process starts with a sender. The sender encodes a message and sends the information to the receiver. The receiver decodes the message and gives verbal or nonverbal feedback. The process continues in a loop. If you cannot get the information to the receiver, then the receiver cannot decode the message to understand it. Thus, the receiver cannot give feedback.
The United States Census Bureau’s survey from 2000 states that 18.6 percent of the total population from the ages of 16 to 64 has a disability of some kind. 41.9 percent of people over the age of 65 have a disability. From these statistics you can see why there is a need to develop specialized products, user friendly manuals for the disabled and have disabled friendly design processes. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) “prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications.” Software could fall under this act, especially if it is designed for access in a public place.
COMMUNICATION PROCESS MODIFIED FOR THE DISABLED
There are many types of disabilities. I will discuss the broad areas of the visually impaired, the hearing impaired, and the mentally challenged. Each of these groups has special needs, which should be fulfilled.
It is very easy to sit down in front of an integrated development environment and start programming a graphical user interface (GUI). This may seem like a simple process that will fit everyone’s needs, however, you must consider the needs of those with disabilities. To be a better engineer you must consider all the possibilities. It might be necessary to develop two or three difference interfaces specifically for those with special needs.
If you are creating a website to be friendly to the disabled then you should test it out it JAWS or another web page reading application. JAWS reads the website or window form to the user. Several programs have the function to read text to the user; therefore, testing on more than one program should be done to ensure usability of the program or product.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED
Many ways to improve the communication process with the visually disabled are available. Likewise, the process of communication with the visually impaired is simple. First, the graphical user interface should have large print. The best option is to make the text an adjustable size, so the user can specify which size best suits his needs. The technical manuals also should be in large print and for easy accessibility, they should be on an adjustable workstation.
For computer access, special keyboards for the visual disabled are available with larger keys than a standard keyboard. In addition to larger keys on some keyboards, there are also “specialized computers” that “have a Braille keyboard and display, so the user can key in Braille, listen or read the document in Braille, print it out or produce it in Braille on an embosser.”
Figure 2
Another way to communicate to the visually disabled is through audio. If reprinting a large print manual is too costly, then you can create an audio version of manual. This is very handy to both the user and frugal for the distributor. Many people with visual disabilities reply on their memory. If an order is changed it could frustrate the user. When customers are frustrated with the product or with the ordering method, he or she will most likely not buy from the same company again. Also, he or she may recommend to others not to buy from the company. By going the little extra step, you could not only help those with special needs, but also may increase your profits and your reputation.
HEARING IMPAIRED
The process of communicating with the hearing impaired can be difficult if you do not have a basic understanding of their disability. First, if the person with a hear disability cannot hear you, do not raise your voice. When you raise your voice, your voice slurs so it is harder for the hearing impaired person to comprehend what you are trying to say. Since many of them read lips, it is very important to keep eye contact and stand directly in front of the person. If you turn you back on the person you are talking with, they cannot see what your saying. Speak slowly and annunciate each syllable and make sure the person can see your lips. A good technique when creating instruction videos for the deaf is to create captioning. This allows for the deaf person to read long.
MENTALLY DISABLED
The communication process with the mentally disabled can be a challenge depending on the severity of the disability. Normally mental disability is ranked in three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. It can help if you know the category you will be working with. The mild mentally disabled need special attention. They need very simple steps; it is good to limit the maximum number of steps to five. A very good tool when training and teaching the mentally disabled are videos, since most cannot read manuals. Usually at this level they can still use basic items like a keyboard and a mouse. The moderately disable don not have the ability to use a keyboard properly. It is possible that they can use a mouse, but that is dependent on the severity of the disability. A maximum of two steps is the limit for moderately disabled people. When working with the disabled, you must be very patient and be prepared to repeat the process many times for them to learn it. This is another reason video training is a good idea to back up the hands on training.
STANDARD DAISY 3
The standard Daisy 3, ANSI/NISO standard of creation of accessibility content will work with the visually impaired, the hearing impaired and also with some mentally challenged people. This standard helps the disabled with a “multi-sensory approach to reading.” They can listen to the book while reading it. Using this standard format “reduces book production time by creating a single file source file that can result in the production of a Daisy audio book or a Braille book.”
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the better the communication process is between the engineer and the user, the better the product potential will be. With this understanding about the different disabilities and with practice communicating, you can become a better engineer.
REFERENCES
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/disable/disabstat2k/table1.html
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm#anchor62335
http://www.daisy.org/about/g_faq.asp
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm#anchor62335
http://www.gospelcom.net/guide/pics/engel4.gif
http://www.abwa.asn.au/ body_what_is_braille_.html