Investigating Meaning in Uses of Assistive Devices: Implications of Social and Professional Contexts
Kristen Shinohara · 2010 · Proceedings of the 12th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2010) · doi:10.1145/1878803.1878891
Summary
This short paper presents an interview study exploring how people with disabilities experience the social and professional implications of using assistive devices. Shinohara defines assistive technologies as proprietary hardware or software made for people with disabilities, typically obtained through special vendors, noting that these devices have a unique look and feel that "marks" their users as different. Nineteen individuals with a range of disabilities — including blindness, low vision, deafness, hard of hearing, deaf-blindness, and cerebral palsy — were recruited and interviewed in audio-recorded sessions of approximately 60 minutes. Ages ranged from 28 to 72 with a mean of 53 years. Participants discussed past and present devices including Braille writers, Perkins Braille typewriters, monoculars, magnifying software, hearing aids, video relay services, deaf-blind communicators, and AAC devices. They were asked about using devices in professional and social settings, how others perceived their devices, and whether they felt self-conscious or empowered. Interview data was analyzed using grounded theory to develop categories and properties.
Key findings
Participants experienced a tension between feeling "weird" and "awkward" due to unfamiliar assistive technology and feeling empowered by what their devices enabled them to do. Most described "getting over" their disability as a process tied to realizing the social benefits their devices provided — such as texting friends or excelling at work. Those with congenital disabilities were generally more accepting of their technologies than those with acquired disabilities. Critically, participants reported that unfamiliar-looking devices perpetuated incorrect assumptions: the more different a device appeared from mainstream technology, the more likely others were to make incorrect assumptions about the user's capabilities. Devices that resembled mainstream products — like the Victor Reader Stream resembling an MP3 player — helped users blend in. Participants with invisible disabilities (low vision, hard of hearing) sometimes avoided using devices to prevent being marked. Features participants wanted in assistive devices included smaller sizes, sleek appeal, control over modalities, flexibility, and color choices. Blind participants were notably excited about the iPhone because it was "just like everyone else's."
Relevance
This study highlights a dimension of assistive technology design that is often overlooked: the social meaning and identity implications of device aesthetics. For accessibility practitioners and product designers, the key message is that functionality alone is insufficient — assistive devices must also consider how they position users socially. Devices that look drastically different from mainstream technology can inadvertently reinforce stigma and incorrect assumptions about disability, while mainstream-looking devices can empower users. This has direct implications for inclusive design: rather than creating separate, specialized-looking tools, designers should strive for assistive features integrated into mainstream products. The enthusiasm participants expressed for the iPhone's built-in accessibility features foreshadowed the broader industry shift toward built-in accessibility in consumer devices, validating the approach of embedding accessibility into products everyone uses.
Tags: assistive technology · social acceptance · stigma · assistive device design · self-image · disability identity