Are disability-access guidelines designed for designers?: do they need to be?

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the implications of recent research studies on disability-related design guidelines. We have investigated the quality of guidelines with respect to designers as their end-users, and we have conducted field studies of the use design resources in practice. We now look at gaps in the current knowledge regarding the conceptualized system that comprises: the designer of technology, end-users of technologies, and guideline-setting committees. We look at the practice of setting up accessibility program offices in large companies as a means to tackle accessibility issues, and examine the implications of this practice for product designers, and people creating disability-based guidelines for technology.