Design for User Empowerment

A design philosophy that prioritizes giving users — particularly people with disabilities — the skills, tools, and agency to create, modify, and customize their own technology solutions rather than being passive recipients of products designed for them. Design for User Empowerment shifts the focus from designing assistive technology for disabled users to enabling them to be active makers and problem-solvers. This approach recognizes that people with disabilities possess unique expertise about their own needs and are well-positioned to innovate solutions when given accessible tools and instruction.