A Collaborative Approach to Design Individualized Technologies with People with a Disability

Abstract

Designing individualized technologies to suit unique needs and wants of people can enhance their quality of life. This paper explores the challenges in bringing together different communities with the necessary skill sets to design such technologies for and with people with a disability. A collaborative approach involving a maker community, a disability services organization, and university staff and students was investigated through the theoretical lens of infrastructuring. Maker communities can potentially provide skilled and willing volunteers, while disability services organizations possess disability sector expertise and the university can contribute design expertise through its staff and students. While these parties complement each other, tensions can arise that require resolution. Through ethnography and co-design this study identified key tensions that arise in a collaboration including differences in motivations, the importance of sensitive and accurate need finding, managing expectations, and leveraging health and safety standards. Resolution of these tensions can lead the way to more sustainable collaborative projects.