{"id":747589,"date":"2021-05-25T09:36:58","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T16:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/?post_type=msr-blog-post&#038;p=747589"},"modified":"2021-05-25T12:45:59","modified_gmt":"2021-05-25T19:45:59","slug":"when-discussing-inclusive-design-dont-leave-out-users-with-invisible-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"msr-blog-post","link":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/articles\/when-discussing-inclusive-design-dont-leave-out-users-with-invisible-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"When discussing inclusive design, don&#8217;t leave out users with invisible disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW217985916 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\">By\u00a0<a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW210661162 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/christakeizer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW210661162 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW210661162 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Christa Keizer<\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW210661162 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW210661162 BCX8\">\u00a0&\u00a0<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW210661162 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mcdanelmichele\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW210661162 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW210661162 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Michele McDanel<\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"EOP SCXW210661162 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/group\/customer-insights-research\/articles\/when-discussing-inclusive-design-dont-leave-out-users-with-invisible-disabilities\/accessible-people-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-747622\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-747622\" src=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/accessible-people-1024x458.png\" alt=\"a group of stick figure people with different disabilities\" width=\"1024\" height=\"458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/accessible-people-1024x458.png 1024w, https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/accessible-people-300x134.png 300w, https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/accessible-people-768x343.png 768w, https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/accessible-people-16x7.png 16w, https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/accessible-people.png 1042w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What\u2019s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of \u201cdisability\u201d?\u00a0In the context of\u00a0product\u00a0design, we might first think of\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">vision loss, hearing loss,\u00a0web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG), screen readers,\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and\/or<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0wheelchairs.<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0These are\u00a0all, of course, extremely\u00a0important\u00a0to consider in design, but\u00a0to be truly inclusive, we must also design for users with\u00a0barriers that may not be\u00a0immediately obvious.\u00a0Invisible disabilities\u00a0are those\u00a0that might not be immediately\u00a0apparent; in some cases, they may not even be medically diagnosed.\u00a0(Half\u00a0of people with disabilities\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/features\/factfiles\/disability\/en\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">cannot afford healthcare<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Those\u00a0who\u00a0identify as having an invisible\u00a0disability\u00a0face\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/15709941\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">social stigma<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and\u00a0therefore\u00a0do\u00a0not\u00a0always\u00a0disclose their disability to those around them.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lesser-known\u00a0invisible disabilities\u00a0as defined by\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/epdf\/10.1111\/j.1467-9566.2007.00518.x\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">medical model of disability<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0include:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Learning difficulties like\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/dyslexiafoundation.org\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">dyslexia<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(difficulty\u00a0with reading),\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Brian-Butterworth-2\/publication\/32887848_Developmental_Dyscalculia\/links\/00b495182a0d375d76000000\/Developmental-Dyscalculia.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">dyscalculia<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(difficulty\u00a0with numbers), and dysgraphia\u00a0(difficulty with writing);\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134233279\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Developmental coordination disorder\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2066137\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">dyspraxia<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134233279\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mental health conditions like\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nami.org\/About-Mental-Illness\/Mental-Health-Conditions\/Depression\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">depression<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6897969\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">anxiety<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nami.org\/About-Mental-Illness\/Mental-Health-Conditions\/Posttraumatic-Stress-Disorder\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nami.org\/About-Mental-Illness\/Mental-Health-Conditions\/Bipolar-Disorder\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">bipolar disorder<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134233279\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Developmental disabilities\u00a0like\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7067282\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">autism and ADHD<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134233279\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pain-related conditions like\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4575027\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">fibromyalgia<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/5005-migraine-headaches\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">migraines<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/12061-arthritis\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">arthritis<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134233279\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Digestive\u00a0and immune\u00a0disorders like\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/digestive-diseases\/celiac-disease\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">celiac disease<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/digestive-diseases\/irritable-bowel-syndrome\/symptoms-causes\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/diabetes\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">diabetes<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134233279\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Reproductive conditions like\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niams.nih.gov\/health-topics\/fibromyalgia\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">fibromyalgia<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nichd.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/pcos\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">polycystic ovary syndrome\u00a0(PCOS)<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nichd.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/endometriosis\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">endometriosis<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30335340\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134233279\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And many others.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We might also consider users who are not medically disabled but are invisibly disabled by\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">something,\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">like the stress of a global pandemic.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">No person is broken. Fix the system.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">More than\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/teams\/noncommunicable-diseases\/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation\/world-report-on-disability\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">1 billion people worldwide<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0live with a disability. The\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/features\/factfiles\/disability\/en\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">unemployment rate<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0of disabled people is twice that of non-disabled people\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/features\/factfiles\/disability\/en\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">half of people<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0with disabilities\u00a0cannot afford\u00a0health care.\u00a0The\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ithaca.edu\/accessibleic\/social\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">social model of disability<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0argues that the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.microsoft.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/28\/doubling-down-on-accessibility-microsofts-next-steps-to-expand-accessibility-in-technology-the-workforce-and-workplace\/\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">disability divide<\/span><\/i><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0is\u00a0created by\u00a0failures of systems, not the disabilities themselves\u00a0while the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/epdf\/10.1111\/j.1467-9566.2007.00518.x\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">medical model of disability<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0often sees\u00a0disability as\u00a0the subject needing\u00a0to be \u201cfixed.\u201d\u00a0Using\u00a0the social model of disability,\u00a0we ask ourselves if\u00a0the technology we develop\u00a0creates\u00a0or removes\u00a0barriers for\u00a0users\u00a0who are already experiencing challenges in a physical world that was not designed for them. For example, an overwhelming interface may be disabling to information workers who have sensory processing challenges\u00a0and\u00a0notifications may be disabling to a user who is trying to focus on a project.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How might we design for\u00a0users with\u00a0invisible disabilities?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Researching and designing for users with invisible disabilities is\u00a0more achievable than ever.\u00a0Here are three tips to get you started:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">1. Do your homework early and often\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Starting your project with a literature review\u00a0can give you\u00a0and your team an initial look into\u00a0users\u2019 attitudes,\u00a0perceptions,\u00a0behaviors, and\u00a0challenges,\u00a0helping you generate hypotheses that can\u00a0later be tested.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You\u00a0might consider immersing yourself in\u00a0social media content created by\u00a0people with disabilities.\u00a0Although this method may be\u00a0a bit unconventional,\u00a0social media can be\u00a0a uniquely valuable source of lived experience from the disabled community. Simply searching for the name of the disability along with a topic you\u2019re exploring (e.g.,\u00a0email, productivity, communication)\u00a0can\u00a0elicit honest product reviews from\u00a0users with disabilities.\u00a0In\u00a0the example\u00a0below,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mollyburkeofficial.com\/about\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Molly Burke<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0shares her experience using makeup\u00a0palettes and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marblejar.net\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Laura Hammock<\/span><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0shares her favorite\u00a0organizational applications.\u00a0(Be sure to then validate your generated hypotheses with primary research, of course.)\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/group\/customer-insights-research\/articles\/when-discussing-inclusive-design-dont-leave-out-users-with-invisible-disabilities\/molly\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-747607\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-747607 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Molly.png\" alt=\"woman holding palette of beauty products\" width=\"936\" height=\"282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Molly.png 936w, https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Molly-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Molly-768x231.png 768w, https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Molly-16x5.png 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/group\/customer-insights-research\/articles\/when-discussing-inclusive-design-dont-leave-out-users-with-invisible-disabilities\/laura-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-747613\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-747613 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Laura.png\" alt=\"woman smiling, and a brain\" width=\"936\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Laura.png 936w, https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Laura-300x88.png 300w, https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Laura-768x224.png 768w, https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Laura-16x5.png 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>2. Include research participants with disabilities.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>When researching disabilities, keep \u201cNothing about us, without us\u201d in mind. A literature review can\u2019t replace primary user research, so avoid making assumptions (especially those that are based on stereotypes) about disabled user groups without incorporating their lived perspectives.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/9789241564182\">15 percent<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a> of people experience a disability, so researchers should make a habit of including disabled users in their studies.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4494783\/\">Research shows<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a> individuals are open to disclosing their invisible disability if the disclosure is expected to yield positive results. This indicates that potential research participants may be open to disclosing their invisible disability to be part of a research study. Check out this <a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/inclusive-research\">practical guide to inclusive research<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a> for more tips on running inclusive research studies.<\/p>\n<p><em>3. Employ universal design principles.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>We can also critically assess our products using the <a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/universaldesign.ie\/what-is-universal-design\/the-7-principles\/the-7-principles.html\">universal design principles<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a>, which were created in 1997 by designers, architects, engineers, and researchers to evaluate the universal accessibility of environments and products. Universal design principles include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Equitable in use:<\/strong> The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flexibility in use: <\/strong>The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Simple and intuitive: <\/strong>Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user&#8217;s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Perceptible information: <\/strong>The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user&#8217;s sensory abilities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tolerance for error:<\/strong> The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Low physical effort:<\/strong> The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Size appropriate for user:<\/strong> Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user&#8217;s body size, posture, or mobility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Universal design principles can be used throughout the design process to ideate new solutions and <a href=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/group\/customer-insights-research\/articles\/a-guide-to-conducting-experience-reviews\/\">critique existing experiences<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wrapping it all up<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Inclusive research is the first step to building <a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.microsoft.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/28\/doubling-down-on-accessibility-microsofts-next-steps-to-expand-accessibility-in-technology-the-workforce-and-workplace\/\">a more accessible future for everyone<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a>. While it may seem intimidating to incorporate disability into your user research, a great first step is talking with your team about how you\u2019ll design for users with disabilities. We have included additional articles, some discussion prompts, and an outline for a disability workshop below to help you with those efforts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Further reading<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/publication\/ai-and-accessibility-a-discussion-of-ethical-considerations\/\">AI and Accessibility: A Discussion of Ethical Considerations<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/video\/our-responsibility-disability-bias-and-ai\/\">Our Responsibility: Disability, Bias, and AI<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/universaldesign.ie\/What-is-Universal-Design\/\">What is Universal Design | Centre for Excellence in Universal Design<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/nda.ie\/\">Disability Statistics | The National Disability Authority (nda.ie)<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Discussion prompts<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do you or someone you know have an invisible disability? How is their workday, behaviors, or work style unique from yours?<\/li>\n<li>Think of a time when users with invisible disabilities may have been disproportionally impacted by a proposed design solution. Were these users in your research samples? Why or why not?<\/li>\n<li>What\u2019s an upcoming project that would uniquely impact someone who:\n<ul>\n<li>Has memory lapses from a former brain injury?<\/li>\n<li>Has difficulty making mathematical calculations (dyscalculia)?<\/li>\n<li>Prefers written communication over meetings?<\/li>\n<li>Is color blind?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>45-minute invisible disability workshop<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Divide your group into teams of three.<\/li>\n<li>Assign each group with a unique scenario and a unique invisible disability. Examples might include: joining an online meeting with social anxiety, managing daily tasks with a brain injury, attending an hour-long remote workshop with ADHD, going to a workplace cafeteria with autism.<\/li>\n<li>Allow each group to spend 15 minutes to research their group\u2019s disability online using social media and reputable academic sources.<\/li>\n<li>Allow each group to spend 15 minutes plotting their findings on an <a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nngroup.com\/articles\/empathy-mapping\/\">empathy map<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a>. (Groups can use PowerPoint, Microsoft Whiteboard, or any other collaborative software.)<\/li>\n<li>Give time for each group to present what they learned using the completed empathy map.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong class=\"x-hidden-focus\">What do you think? How will these ideas and resources help you better understand and design for those with invisible disabilities? Tweet us your thoughts at @MicrosoftRI or <a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MicrosoftRI\">follow us on Facebook<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and join the conversation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Christa Keizer is an Outlook Calendar design researcher who passionately advocates for inclusive design, mental health, and sustainability. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Author note: In this post I use both <\/em><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/odr.dc.gov\/page\/people-first-language\"><em>person-first language<\/em><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><em> (PFC) and <\/em><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/autisticadvocacy.org\/about-asan\/identity-first-language\/\"><em>identity-first language<\/em><span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><em> (IFL) interchangeably. I am using both models because as a disabled person myself, I personally use identity-first language when describing my disabilities, while some disability communities prefer person-first language. My intent is to always use language that each community prefers. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Michele McDanel is a builder, an organizer, and a storyteller with a bachelor\u2019s degree in Communications and an MBA. She is energized by solving problems and meeting business needs through communications and customer experience solutions that raise the bar. Michele enjoys building relationships and managing teams; and overall, just figuring out what the \u201cspecial sauce\u201d is that will be the competitive differentiator for a business and its solutions. She joined the Customer Insights Research team in 2019 to amplify the great UX research and data science work they do, and to showcase the thought leadership of the team across internal and external communications, events, and social media.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More than\u00a01 billion people worldwide\u00a0live with a disability. Using\u00a0the social model of disability,\u00a0we ask ourselves if\u00a0the technology we develop\u00a0creates\u00a0or removes\u00a0barriers for\u00a0users\u00a0who are already experiencing challenges in a physical world that was not designed for them. For example, an overwhelming interface may be disabling to information workers who have sensory processing challenges\u00a0and\u00a0notifications may be disabling to a user who is trying to focus on a project.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38703,"featured_media":747625,"template":"","meta":{"msr-url-field":"","msr-podcast-episode":"","msrModifiedDate":"","msrModifiedDateEnabled":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_classifai_error":"","msr-content-parent":616842,"msr_hide_image_in_river":0,"footnotes":""},"research-area":[],"msr-locale":[268875],"msr-post-option":[],"class_list":["post-747589","msr-blog-post","type-msr-blog-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","msr-locale-en_us"],"msr_assoc_parent":{"id":616842,"type":"group"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-blog-post\/747589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-blog-post"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/msr-blog-post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38703"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-blog-post\/747589\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":748366,"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-blog-post\/747589\/revisions\/748366"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/747625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=747589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"msr-research-area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-area?post=747589"},{"taxonomy":"msr-locale","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-locale?post=747589"},{"taxonomy":"msr-post-option","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-post-option?post=747589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}