#PeopleWithDisabilities are integral parts of our world & community, yet they often face #inaccessible or #unwelcoming spaces online. The word #disability itself is a limiting term, as it refers to an immense spectrum of experiences. #Disabilities can affect a person’s auditory, cognitive, neurological, linguistic, visual, emotional or physical abilities moving through the world, both online & offline.
Curtis's humiliation came from the fact that at his graduation, the ramp to get onto the stage was too steep & #inaccessible for #WheelchairUsers.
Curtis has #EhlersDanlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that causes joint dislocations & severe pain, which is why he uses a #wheelchair & has a service animal.
Does anyone find it interestingly ironic (yet typical), that a profiling questionnaire to join an #accessibility#research panel was ... dare I say, somewhat #inaccessible? Why does this happen more often than not? Oh, I already know the answer. I just don't like it.
I've worked with product teams where the assumed audience for a feature is 1% with shakey evidence for that.
Disabled people make up 20% of the population and buy products.
While it's true the disabled people are disproportionately under employed and under payed capitalists are wrong even on their own terms.
This same product team had disabled customers contacting support because parts of the product were inaccessible but they were ignored in favour of speculated users that may not exist.
That is ableism in action, no amount of conversation about accessibility addresses that dynamic.