Connecting for a Better Future: Understanding Physical Access Needs

After the success of last year's events, Access Advisors is again hosting a series of webinars to help you learn about various access needs. 

This webinar, the third in the series, will help you learn about physical access needs. After this webinar you will understand more about what makes a more user friendly experience for those who physical access needs in their day to day life.

Introduction

Technology relies heavily on us having two hands that work without pain to interact with the interface. Without full and unencumbered use of those two hands, interacting with technology can be difficult. Physical impairment that can cause problems range from painful arthritis to only having one arm. Physical access needs may be due to tremors, pain or paralysis. 

Around 13% of people in NZ have permanent physical disabilities, the number increases in likelihood with age. Almost half of physical disabilities that were received from an injury were received on a job. There are also many people who experience chronic pain when using a keyboard or mouse. Temporary physical impairments might include dominant hand injuries and situational impairments might be only being able to operate your phone one handed. While it is impossible to compare, if you’ve ever broken your dominant arm and tried to do up the fly on your jeans one handed, you have a tiny inkling of what it is like to have a physical impairment.

The impact of a physical impairment on technology use ranges from struggling to use a mouse and relying on a keyboard, to being blocked from using a website because it won’t support the assistive technology being used. Providing better access to the Internet for people with physical access needs typically relates to ensuring that the all aspects of the website can be operated using just a keyboard and reducing the amount of input/clicks/tabs required.

Learning outcomes

In this session you will:

•   Learn more about having a physical impairment
•   Hear about the impact of physical impairment on technology use
•   Have a demonstration of assistive technology for accessing the Internet and apps
•   Identify some design and development considerations

With gratitude 

Sign up now and look for our other webinars this week focusing on all different kinds of access needs for a more complete idea of how to create an inclusive digital experience. Or purchase all five together at a lower rate in our TechWeek2021 Bundle Event!

Who we are

Access Advisors' mission is to help businesses across Aotearoa be more accessible for all Kiwis by removing barriers in interface design. We care about people and accessibility and strive to increase awareness of permanent, temporary and situational access needs. Initiated by Blind Low Vision New Zealand in 2017 in response to business demand for accessibility support, our connection now extends to many different communities. Our capabilities span the product life cycle, from discovery through design and development and onto delivery. We help businesses reach their accessibility goals and increase their internal capability, while being conscious of business realities.