Designing for Accessibility:
Overcoming The Outdated Notions Of Disability

Designing for Accessibility:
Overcoming The Outdated Notions Of Disability

There are nearly 56 million people with disabilities living in the US, which represents nearly 20 percent of the population. For too long most “design” models for this population, one of the largest growing sectors of our society, have been based on an outdated notion of disability, featuring clunky chrome-plated wheelchairs or a walker with tennis balls on the legs. However, the design industry is catching up and they are recognizing people with disabilities as people, not just case studies. Learn about advances in designing for disability including the work of Amy Mullins who redefines body image by using 12 different sets of prosthetic legs, MIT students who created a $200 wheelchair that can move through sand, as well as advances in 3D printing creating prosthetic limbs.

This session is led by Damon McLeese, Executive Director of Denver’s Access Gallery.  Having worked with people with disabilities for 40 years, Damon uses equal parts experience, research and humor in his presentations.