The Inclusive Africa Conference brought together design and disability experts to explore the ways in which design can still exclude people with disabilities
Technology, design and disability professionals from around the globe gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, or virtually, for the 2023 Inclusive Africa Conference. The annual event explores the ways in which technology and design can be more inclusive and accessible. The three- day conference, hosted by InAble from 29 to 31 May, welcomed a total of 2 500 attendees of which 118 were speakers at the event.
While the topics discussed during the conference varied greatly, a common theme that emerged was the need for better collaborations between people with disabilities and designers to ensure that the technology and design was accessible and useable.
Accessibility Usability
Speaking on youth with disabilities and platform livelihoods, Irene Mbari-Kirika, Executive Director at InABLE, said: “Something can be fully accessible, but not useable. You need both.”
Software, for example, could include all the design elements needed to make it accessible, but have too many steps or be complicated to use. People with disabilities might thus avoid using the software. Similarly, something might be easy to use, but not accessible to people with disabilities. To ensure the design includes both, designers need to consult people with disabilities.
Involved from the start
Including accessibility as an afterthought can be expensive or time consuming compared to including it from the start. Installing a ramp after a building is completed can be challenging and costly. Designing a building with a ramp is more cost effective.
“Including people with disabilities or organisations during project preparation is important as it informs the project design,” said Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor of the World Bank Group, during her keynote address at the event.
Designers can benefit from including disability specialists in the design process and consulting people with disabilities throughout the project. This ensures that accessibility is at the foundation of the design.
Who you consult
It is important to consider who and how people are consulted during the design process. Ideally, designers will consult people of diverse race, background and disability as each individual, their life experience and disability will impact on how they engage with the design.
During a session that looked at consumer research, Bruce Walker from the Georgia Institute of Technology said: “There is great diversity in Africa. Designing for that is a big challenge.” Especially as designers aren’t always familiar with the challenges the individuals might face.
He shares the example of design students not from Africa who might never imagine a school without electricity. Their design might heavily rely on electricity, which then won’t work for schools in Africa with little or no electricity. He urged for a knowledge and experience transfer between designers and users.
During the same session, Christine Hemphill from Open Inclusion said: “Design needs to come from Africa so that it can work for Africa.” Similarly, design needs to come from disability so that it can work for disability – something the bigger technology companies understand well.
Discussing Big Tech, Sunday Parker from Microsoft shared: “Co-creation is important. We create for people with disabilities with people with disabilities.” This includes consulting people with disabilities from within the organisation and externally through the Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab.
Once a diverse group of people are selected, they need to be consulted in an accessible way so that they can fully participate in providing feedback on the design.
Don’t make assumptions
Discussing consumer research, Christine shared an example of how the intended use can differ from the user’s need. To accommodate the blind community, a theatre offered accessible screenings. One woman didn’t enjoy the experience.
She had always gone to the theatre to spend time with her friends more so than for the film. With the accessible screenings, she was separated from her friend group. Thus, the design didn’t meet her particular need. Christine added: “Don’t assume you know why the person is there.”
By consulting people with disabilities throughout the project, designers can get a range of perspectives on their product, ensure it is useable and accessible so that everyone can enjoy it.
Design for everyone
“Sometimes it is the simple innovation that leads to change,” Charlotte said during her keynote address. This change can often benefit more than just the disability community.
“Not designing for accessibility is failing our families and our future selves,” said Colette Fransolet, Global Leadership Council Member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).
It is very possible to develop a disability later in life through illness, an accident or old age. A more accessible environment will benefit the disability community today, and everyone tomorrow. Colette adds: “We need to share skills of accessibility so that it can be applied everywhere.”
Inclusive Africa Conference Award
The conference also showcased innovative design. This year, the top accolade went to Kochi – a digital manufacturing technology from Kenya that specialises in producing comfortable, portable, and safe wheelchairs. Kochi received a generous US$ 10 000 (R184 620) grant that will significantly contribute to enhancing the usability of their product.
“It is overwhelming that we won even though we were unable to make it to the conference,” said Kenneth Gichohi, Co-Founder and Chief Design Officer at Kochi.
“Someone saw the potential and believed in our product which will make it possible for people to get affordable assistive technology solutions after proper assessment has been done.”
The first runners-up was Deaftronics from Botswana with the world’s first rechargeable solar-powered hearing aid designed explicitly for individuals with hearing loss.
