Competency-Based Design

An accessible design methodology that extends ability-based design by focusing on "competencies"—the representative practical skills people develop through participation in everyday activities, particularly mainstream technologies like social media. Unlike ability-based design, which works best when abilities can be clearly measured (physical and sensory capabilities), competency-based design is effective for users whose cognitive, physical, and practical abilities vary along a spectrum and are context-dependent, such as people with intellectual disability. The approach involves three phases: revealing competencies through participatory engagement, designing with those competencies as a foundation, and enhancing competencies through use.