Appropriation

In HCI and accessibility research, the process by which users adapt, repurpose, or extend a technology beyond its designers' original intent to fit their own practices and contexts. Appropriation is often how disabled users bridge the gap between generic products and their specific needs — for example, using a mainstream notes app as an AAC preparation tool, or chaining consumer AI services to scaffold speech. Designing for appropriation means building flexibility, open interfaces, and user agency into assistive tools rather than locking users into a single predetermined workflow.