Julie Buelow

Promoting Dignity through Design: A Grounded Analysis of Stakeholders' Views on the Role of Disability Organizations in Inclusive Design

Inclusive design promotes the involvement of users with diverse needs in the design process. The possibility of disability organizations collaborating with businesses to enhance accessibility through inclusive design was explored in this major research project. Open-ended interviews were held with twelve participants representing interactions with disability organizations as clients, employees, volunteers, supporters, or business associates. The data were gathered and analyzed using a grounded approach. The analysis revealed the complexity of accessibility and the value associated by the participants with dignity. A model focused around dignity and a potential application was proposed as a supportive tool to illustrate the concepts further. A core idea proposed by this research is that design, when directed at promoting the dignity of the users, could enhance their experience and create more inclusive systems. http://openresearch.ocadu.ca/id/eprint/246/