Universal Design: An Intercultural Perspective

Abstract

Universal Design (UD) is an effective approach for creating inclusive and accessible systems and services for individuals with diverse abilities. In this presentation, we describe how we used UD in an intercultural context. We co-designed an open-source Do-It-Yourself (DIY) prototyping platform, TalkBox, to develop customizable communication devices for non-verbal individuals. We then conducted a series of workshops in Western Kenya, where we trained university students from computer science and social work programs, as well as special education teachers from urban and rural schools in how to use TalkBox to design customized systems. These participants then formed teams and worked together to develop new assistive technology solutions for non-verbal children in local schools. This talk will be of interest to researchers, educators and practitioners who work with individuals in different cultural contexts and are interested in questions of intersectionality and intercultural collaboration. We describe how the task of designing customized assistive technology can be used as a tool to connect university students with real-world scenarios in their communities. We also share lessons learned about the potential of using DIY assistive technology in developing contexts and in transnational projects.