Computer-Aided Design

The use of software to create, modify, analyse, and optimise designs for physical objects or systems. In accessibility contexts, CAD tools are critical for designing assistive technology, tactile graphics, and 3D printable models, but most commercial CAD applications rely heavily on visual graphical interfaces that are inaccessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Accessible alternatives include programming-based tools like OpenSCAD, which define geometry through code rather than visual manipulation, and tangible authoring tools that provide physical feedback during the design process.