Beyond Compliance to Innovation: The business case for accessibilty - MaRS Best Practices

The Bright Economic Future of Inclusive Design

Jutta Treviranus Inclusive Design Research Centre OCAD University

The Inclusive Design Research Centre

•  inclusive design of emerging information and communication systems and practices

•  established in 1993 as the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre at the University of Toronto, moved to OCAD in August 2010

•  currently largest centre of it’s kind in the world

•  over 96 research partner organizations globally

•  from 15 to 23 multi-sector, multi-partner projects at any one time

•  a wealth of resources and tools to support inclusive design

•  open source and open access - free to commercialize

• URL: idrc.ocad.ca

Inclusive Design

• Design that is inclusive of the full range of human diversity with respect to ability, language, culture, gender, age and other forms of human difference

• Designing for Diversity

• Addressing the beginning of the ICT “food chain” to support integrated accessibility from the start

The Inclusive Design Institute

• Regional research hub

• Eight postsecondary institutions as partners:

•  University of Toronto

•  UOIT

•  Ryerson

•  Seneca

•  Sheridan

•  George Brown

•  York

•  Funded by ORF-RI and CFI

Global Demand

• Growing market for inclusively designed products and services

• Rising demand for personnel with skills and knowledge in inclusive design

Legislative Trend

•  In addition to AODA

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

• US Rehab 508 Refresh

• US 21st Century Communication and Video Accessibility Act

• Every trading partner...

Digital Exclusion

•  access to online systems no longer an option

•  estimated social and economic cost of digital exclusion

•  required for government, commerce, education, employment, recreation, social engagement, civic engagement....

•  focus of public policy globally

The Aging of the Western World

•  increasing the demand

© 2001 Trace R&D Center, University of Wisconsin

9.5% of the population between the ages of 18 and 24 years has some level of disability.


10% of the population between the ages of 24 and 34 years has some level of disability.


64% of the population ages 75 and above has some level of disability.


Begin group aging animation (slides 9-15) –

allow 1-2 seconds on each slide for effect.

Aging and the Labour Gap

•  Impact of labour gap greater than the numbers

• Corporations hoping to address accessibility

“We do better when we are equal”

•  “The Spirit Level : Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better” by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Picket

• Equality and inclusion benefits the whole society

•  Inequality causes shorter, unhealthier and unhappier lives

•  Increases the rate of violence, obesity, imprisonment and addiction

• Adversely affects mental and physical health

Inclusive Design and Innovation

•  True innovation occurs at the margins...

• We are pushed further by:

•  disruptive notions

•  perspectives that do not fit in

•  unpredictable inspirations that burst our neat categories

•  true innovation is experienced by the majority as uncomfortable, foreign and strange

Diversity and Innovation

•  “diversity trumps ability” Scott Page

• more effective problem solving

•  better decision making and planning

• more accurate prediction

•  greater innovation

Not the Current Business Models

• Standard information and communication technology (ICT) developers design for the typical or average user

• Assistive technology (AT) is intended to bridge the gap to reach anyone that requires alternative access systems

•  the Assistive Technology bridge is inadequate and crumbling

• AT has an impossible technical and business task

•  updates, upgrades, proprietary systems, quickly changing technology

•  small enterprises with small customer base

•  only addressing some disabilities

•  only reaching a few countries

One-size-fits-one Inclusive Design

•  the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure

•  http://gpii.org

•  the GPII is not a single entity, a single technology, a single set of tools or a single architecture but the orchestration and linking of a large diversity of tools, infrastructures, applications, contributors, organizations and participants globally - like the Web

The Education Crisis

•  addressing the needs of the “doubly marginalized”

•  recognizing that learners learn differently and we need a diversity of learners

Literacy Levels

•  addressing both literacy and eliteracy

•  providing scaffolds for literacy development

•  assisting second language learners

Prosperity and the Global Economy...

• move from “push” market with high cost of start up, to “pull” market with very low entry costs

•  shift to diversification of market and away from direct competition

• more resilient business environment

•  encourages participation of small enterprises, new entrepreneurs and Indie developers

Pooling Resources

•  a diversity of resources for a diversity of needs

•  a common platform

•  incremental innovation

•  a critical mass needed to reach the margins

The Direct Demand-Supply Pipeline

•  expression of diverse individual needs

•  connection to a diversity of producers and suppliers

•  global

•  reduces need for marketing infrastructure

The Innovation Gap

•  The demand for diverse products and services prompts innovation

• Support for diverse teams which in turn are more creative and innovative

• New, innovative ideas can “break” into the market

Youth Unemployment

• Young entrepreneurs and SMEs have a chance to enter the market

• No need for large infrastructure or capital investment

• Support for new ideas and approaches

Even "Waste Reduction

•  “How to Reach Me” program

• Demand-supply match

Support for AODA compliance...

• AODA as economic driver

•  just-in-time not just-in-case accessibility

•  impetus to innovate with technology

•  cloud-based service that meets needs of all users

Questions, Suggestions ??

Accessible Customer Service Accessibility is good for business

Are you ready? ood for business?

Agenda

  Disability Stats

  Disability Types

  Five Standards 1.  Customer Service Standard 2.  Information & Communication Standard 3.  Employment Standard 4.  Transportation 5.  Built Environment

  Next Steps

People with Disabilities

  Approximately 1.8 million Ontarians (15.5%)

  Increasing as population gets older: 65 and older – 47%

  Baby boomers 1946 – 1964

  In 2026 approximately 16% of people in Canada will have a disability

  Spending power of $21 to $25 billion a year in Canada

General Types of Disabilities

  Physical

  Hearing

  Vision

  Deaf-Blind

  Speech

  Mental Health

  Learning

Other Disabilities

  Intellectual

  Sensory: Taste, Smell, Touch

  Other conditions: cancer, diabetes, asthma, allergies ….…

  Temporary disabilities

Purpose: To achieve a fully accessible Ontario by 2025 Develop accessibility standards Enforce the standards - Fines: $100,000 per day

$ 50,000 per Director

The AODA will apply to broader public, private sectors and non profits.

- Municipalities & Government Ministries - Hospitals

- Schools, Colleges & Universities -  Public Transit -  Non profit organizations - Stores, Restaurants, Dental Offices……

everyone

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)

Legislated Background

AODA Standards

F i v e S t a n d a r d s

1. Customer Service - Accessible Customer Service

2. Information and Communication - Provide information & Communicate

3. Employment – Recruit, Retain and Accommodate

4. Transportation – Accessible Transit

5. Built Environment - Physical and Architectural

Customer Service Standard

  How we interact with people with various disabilities and provide service.

  Requires:   accessible customer service policy, procedures

and practices   staff training   a feedback method   alternate communication methods, service animals,

support persons and assistive devices   notice of service disruption

Compliance January 1, 2010 – designated public sector January 1, 2012 – private sector/NFP’s


Ask if you can help

It doesn’t have to cost a lot.

  Signage, price tags, brochures/flyers (clear print guidelines)

  Alternative formats – large print, electronic, audio, read aloud, write down instructions, draw diagram

  Exterior and interior routes   Way finding   Rest area – chair   Portable ramps   Provide assistance   Inaccessible access building - home

visits or on-line shopping


5 things you can do NOW!

1.  Review the Accessible Customer Service Standard – Compliance (polices & procedures and training) – Capitalize

2.  Educate and expand expertise on accessibility – all 5 standards

3.  Determine the level of accessibility in your facilities and plan to build “no new barriers”

4.  Evaluate your website as an accessible service delivery method

5.  Keep accessibility “top of mind” for your staff and volunteers - newsletters, tips…

Accessibility Experts Ltd.

Training:   Accessible Customer Service

Training - One Hour - Three Hour - E-Learning - Train the Trainer

  Accessible Web Design   Accessible Audits

Consulting Services

Website www.accessibilityexperts.ca

The smart yet simple communication aid

Design advice from the team behind

Video: “Meet MyVoice”

Customize in seconds.

Location-awareness finds phrases fast.

Speak with personality.

Add dozens of free vocab books.

Rest easy with automatic backup.

What design ideas went into MyVoice?

1) Assistive technology doesn’t have to be ugly

Assistive technology doesn’t

have to be UGLY

1) Assistive technology doesn’t have to be ugly

2) Get personal with your users Get personal

with your users

2) Get personal with your users

3) There’s no substitute for domain

expertise

There’s no substitute for domain expertise

3) There’s no substitute for domain

expertise

4) Our key idea: anticipatory makes

accessible

Anticipatory = Accessible


accessible


accessible

Thank You

AAC.com

Beyond Compliance to Innovation: The business case for accessibilty - MaRS Best Practices

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Transcript of Beyond Compliance to Innovation: The business case for accessibilty - MaRS Best Practices