WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.770 --> 00:00:15.389 Meaghan Roper: Alright, so we are recording to the cloud. Now I'm gonna take an opportunity to take a deep breath here. And if any point while we're recording you want to stop. You can just say, Hey, can we stop, don't worry about it, I'll edit that out. 2 00:00:16.590 --> 00:00:19.350 Meaghan Roper: Or if you feel like you're fumbling over your words really bad. 3 00:00:19.590 --> 00:00:24.390 Meaghan Roper: You can just stop, take a breath and start the sentence over and I'll edit that out too. 4 00:00:24.990 --> 00:00:25.320 Cool. 5 00:00:26.910 --> 00:00:30.300 Meaghan Roper: Alright, so we'll start in 321 6 00:00:32.730 --> 00:00:49.230 Meaghan Roper: Hello everybody, my name is Megan Roper, I'm a Business Analyst with level access and I am here today to welcome you to the first episode of our intro to assistive technology podcast series. I'm joined today by my colleague, Sarah. Sarah, would you like to say hello and introduce yourself. 7 00:00:49.440 --> 00:01:02.670 Sarah Schaidt: Yes, hello, everyone. My name is Sarah shade. I am a manager at the Accessibility Services Department at level access and really excited to be joining Megan today talking about assistive technology. 8 00:01:03.720 --> 00:01:10.320 Meaghan Roper: Yes, I am excited to have you here as well. This is going to be a really good introductory conversation to assistive technology. 9 00:01:10.740 --> 00:01:24.510 Meaghan Roper: This is kicking off our series, we're going to talk about assistive technology as a topic today and then dive into specific types of assistive technologies and the upcoming episodes. So this is a really exciting way to get kicked off. 10 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:31.920 Meaghan Roper: So Sarah I'm going to start by asking you, what is your definition of assistive technology. 11 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:39.450 Meaghan Roper: In relation to sort of like the general definition of it. And what does assistive technology do 12 00:01:40.170 --> 00:01:54.870 Sarah Schaidt: Sure. So assistive technology, which sometimes it's referred to as at could be really any item piece of equipment, maybe a software program or part of an actual it system that could be used to 13 00:01:55.470 --> 00:02:09.360 Sarah Schaidt: Improve the functional capabilities of that application for persons with disabilities. So it could be hardware or software at the end of the day, it's kind of bridging that gap or 14 00:02:10.350 --> 00:02:20.730 Sarah Schaidt: Overcoming any barriers that would otherwise exist for someone who may not have one of their one or more, I should say, of their senses. 15 00:02:22.050 --> 00:02:27.120 Meaghan Roper: All right, so you kind of answered my next question there. Like, what sort of 16 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:42.900 Meaghan Roper: 80s. Are there, like software's and hardware is but I'd like to ask you, can you give a couple of examples of assistive technologies, you know, there's a few that maybe folks are really familiar with. And then a few that folks are not so familiar with that will be covering later. 17 00:02:43.530 --> 00:02:57.540 Sarah Schaidt: Sure. So something that probably everyone is familiar with glasses, believe it or not, that can be considered an assistive technology. It helps you to see or to read better I myself use glasses when I'm working on a computer. 18 00:02:57.930 --> 00:03:09.930 Sarah Schaidt: So glasses could be considered a hardware assistive technology. Same thing with a cane for someone who is non visual or has low vision and utilizes a cane to 19 00:03:10.530 --> 00:03:20.040 Sarah Schaidt: Maneuver and make sure that they're, they're able to navigate the world around them. In addition, there are there are other types of hardware of like a physical tablets. 20 00:03:20.730 --> 00:03:30.780 Sarah Schaidt: That may be pre programmed with messages for someone who's nonverbal so that they can tap or touch the tablet screen to communicate on their behalf. 21 00:03:31.860 --> 00:03:36.150 Sarah Schaidt: Even some of like our smart home technology like Alexa 22 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:56.040 Sarah Schaidt: Could be considered an assistive technology since it could help someone complete a task that they might not otherwise be able to do like get out of bed and change the thermostat. So those are some of the most familiar hardware that a lot of people might be able to recognize 23 00:03:57.990 --> 00:04:00.420 Sarah Schaidt: Your next question was regarding software. Correct. 24 00:04:00.750 --> 00:04:09.630 Sarah Schaidt: Yeah. Awesome. Yeah, software, there's, there's a few different types of software. The most common is probably what's known as a screen reader. 25 00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:19.080 Sarah Schaidt: So what a screen reader does is it will communicate the on screen information audibly to someone who is non visual or has low vision. 26 00:04:19.650 --> 00:04:33.210 Sarah Schaidt: So for example, if you're reading a web page, it will announce the text on the page, it would announce the image alt text. So a description of the image that was programmed by the developer hopefully 27 00:04:34.050 --> 00:04:48.270 Sarah Schaidt: It will announce things like forms buttons, help them navigate and quickly identify information that's on the page. So, screen readers. There's a few different kinds, whether it's for desktop, they have some for mobile devices to 28 00:04:49.470 --> 00:04:59.130 Sarah Schaidt: Some other software could be like voice recognition software Dragon Naturally Speaking is one of the most popular ones there that would help someone who might 29 00:04:59.460 --> 00:05:07.350 Sarah Schaidt: Have mobility challenges to be able to speak to their computer and navigate that way instead of utilizing a mouse or keyboard. 30 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:22.920 Sarah Schaidt: And then other things like magnifying software or software with high contrast that will change the appearance of the screen to help an individual with low vision or color blindness to be able to accurately see what's being displayed 31 00:05:24.450 --> 00:05:30.450 Meaghan Roper: Yeah, thank you for sharing that I this is why I'm so excited to have you here because you're a plethora of information when it comes to 32 00:05:30.510 --> 00:05:43.680 Meaghan Roper: Assistive Technology. So one of the things I really liked that you shared there in the beginning, talking about hardware. I think when people hear the word assistive technology, we kind of get stuck on technology and we associated with 33 00:05:44.280 --> 00:05:53.940 Meaghan Roper: Electronics glasses is a really great example of an assistive technology and so as canes that aren't necessarily electronic devices, but can help. 34 00:05:54.540 --> 00:06:03.240 Meaghan Roper: Folks to access the world, whether it's through reading materials or seeing things a little bit larger for folks who are nearsighted or farsighted or like you said. 35 00:06:03.660 --> 00:06:13.860 Meaghan Roper: For folks who are low vision that might be using canes to help them navigate independently or even other types of canes for folks with other types of mobility issues. 36 00:06:14.730 --> 00:06:20.700 Meaghan Roper: I think that was a really good explanation of assistive technology you you kind of covered all the bases there so 37 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:29.190 Meaghan Roper: Now, getting back to technology as sort of an electronic form because quite a lot of assistive technology is electronic 38 00:06:29.820 --> 00:06:42.780 Meaghan Roper: And you mentioned a little bit. You talked about desktop and mobile. So a lot of folks talk about assistive technology in the context of desktop at vs mobile at. Do you find that 39 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:56.100 Meaghan Roper: One type is used more than the other or that you are testing with more one than the other. I guess I'm wondering, do you think the market is larger for desktop at or for mobile at 40 00:06:56.910 --> 00:07:05.460 Sarah Schaidt: Great question. So I think it varies based upon the assistive technology that's required. So I know that mobile phones today. 41 00:07:05.820 --> 00:07:16.740 Sarah Schaidt: A lot of them have built in assistive technology that is because it's baked into the physical device and baked into the OS is made to be 42 00:07:17.550 --> 00:07:30.630 Sarah Schaidt: used properly with also those native applications. So if you have an iPhone, for example, and you're using voiceover which is the screen reader that comes with an iPhone. There's nothing for you to install 43 00:07:31.020 --> 00:07:45.120 Sarah Schaidt: Apple has created their software to work seamlessly with VoiceOver. So if you're using the phone itself. If you're using some of the native applications like their mail app or their 44 00:07:45.420 --> 00:08:05.490 Sarah Schaidt: Photos, things like that, it's going to work beautifully because everything was created by that same developer right so they all speak the same language. So I feel that mobile has really come a long way with assistive technologies like screen readers like zoom magnification. 45 00:08:07.080 --> 00:08:13.650 Sarah Schaidt: Even being able to do. Switch Access, which is one that I didn't mention earlier. I don't think that allows someone who 46 00:08:14.040 --> 00:08:22.800 Sarah Schaidt: Might have difficulty with something like a mouse or a keyboard, but could manipulate one or more large buttons. 47 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:29.730 Sarah Schaidt: To allow them to control a computer or mobile phone, and a lot of mobile phones have switched built right in. Now, 48 00:08:30.150 --> 00:08:37.080 Sarah Schaidt: So I feel that mobile devices are starting to take a bit of a leap there because they're able to integrate 49 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:47.820 Sarah Schaidt: That software and it will also work seamlessly with the integrated applications where things might fall short on a mobile is mobile developers don't always 50 00:08:48.150 --> 00:08:55.770 Sarah Schaidt: Make their applications like a third party developer to work seamlessly with assistive technology and that's what 51 00:08:56.520 --> 00:09:13.230 Sarah Schaidt: I do in the accessibility services team here at level access is to work with, you know, clients and corporations and their development teams to ensure that they are considering these assistive technology users and how to build with at in mind now on a desktop. 52 00:09:15.030 --> 00:09:29.700 Sarah Schaidt: Software can can vary obviously they're going to have different options for Windows vs Mac. I personally prefer accessibility features on a Mac because, again, a lot of them are baked in voiceover comes with a Mac, PC. 53 00:09:31.110 --> 00:09:42.630 Sarah Schaidt: With Windows, typically. Sure, you could use narrator, but it's not as great as something like NBA or jaws. Those have been a little bit more advanced and how 54 00:09:43.350 --> 00:09:51.750 Sarah Schaidt: They help users to navigate and some of the features that they offer as far as testing. I think it's kind of equal a lot of our 55 00:09:52.290 --> 00:10:02.280 Sarah Schaidt: Clients are requesting us to test both on mobile and desktop realizing that you know users tend to prefer a particular 56 00:10:03.150 --> 00:10:21.630 Sarah Schaidt: Device based upon their situation if I'm using social media, I'm probably on my couch. But if I'm filing my taxes. I'm probably sitting at my desk in front of a computer. So making sure that their applications are accessible, regardless of where the end user decides to access them. 57 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:23.010 No. 58 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:37.860 Meaghan Roper: That's, that's a really good way to think about it. Um, obviously. At level access. We spend a lot of time looking at a lot of different assistive technologies and testing with them and we look at 59 00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:57.810 Meaghan Roper: Many, many different products in all kinds of verticals, whether it's retail telecom government financial sector utilities. We're all over the place, right. I know from having conversations with you that sometimes you'll use assistive technology in your day to day life. 60 00:10:58.560 --> 00:11:01.650 Meaghan Roper: When you're trying to multitask or just to like 61 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:16.350 Meaghan Roper: Give yourself a break. So I'm wondering, what are some of the assistive technologies that you like to use. And do you have a preference for a certain kind over the other, or does it vary. When you're trying to accomplish different tasks. 62 00:11:17.010 --> 00:11:29.700 Sarah Schaidt: Sure. So one of my favorite things to do, especially when I had a long commute was to turn on the screen reader on my phone and have it read off the news to me. 63 00:11:30.420 --> 00:11:37.230 Sarah Schaidt: That way I was still able to kind of hear the the news from the websites that I enjoy going to 64 00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:49.800 Sarah Schaidt: And I could keep my focus on the road. So I turn on the screen reader. And I would just prefer to read everything on that particular page and listen to those articles or listen to my email be read out loud to me. 65 00:11:50.250 --> 00:12:00.270 Sarah Schaidt: Was definitely kind of a time saver and allowed me to, I guess, regained some of the time that wouldn't otherwise be lost, sitting in traffic. 66 00:12:01.770 --> 00:12:13.920 Sarah Schaidt: I also really enjoy watching movies with audio descriptions turned on. So for those who might not be familiar with what audio descriptions are they describe the visual 67 00:12:14.730 --> 00:12:24.330 Sarah Schaidt: content that's being displayed during a TV movie or any other type of video or multimedia that would not otherwise. 68 00:12:24.990 --> 00:12:37.680 Sarah Schaidt: Not be communicated audibly. So for example, if you think of like the movie a quiet place. There's not much dialogue in that movie. A lot of it is visual on screen action. 69 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:51.720 Sarah Schaidt: And I watched that recently with audio descriptions turned on and it completely changes the experience. It's helped me because I can you know step into the other room to check on dinner or 70 00:12:52.920 --> 00:13:01.320 Sarah Schaidt: I'm folding clothes or doing something else that I don't have to be looking at the screen the whole time. So as a side of user selfishly, it makes me a little bit. 71 00:13:02.370 --> 00:13:09.060 Sarah Schaidt: More flexible I'm able to multitask. But it does overall enhanced the entire experience too. 72 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:15.420 Meaghan Roper: I like that you shared that specifically that you're a sighted user and you use it because 73 00:13:15.870 --> 00:13:26.460 Meaghan Roper: I'm blind. And I use audio description because while I kind of have to I depend on it to be able to understand what's going on. There's quite a lot of TV shows and movies out there. 74 00:13:26.850 --> 00:13:33.360 Meaghan Roper: Where there are visual things that happened visual cues. I think particularly of action and horror movies where 75 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:44.190 Meaghan Roper: There's a lot of sort of visual things happen that help progress the storyline along. But what I liked that you said is that you're a sighted user that uses it because 76 00:13:44.610 --> 00:13:54.000 Meaghan Roper: It's not just for somebody who's blind or low vision or somebody that needs it. It can help a lot of people. It allows you to do things like make dinner. 77 00:13:54.360 --> 00:14:07.320 Meaghan Roper: I like to turn on my audio description and cook my dinner too, so I think it enables us to sort of be on the same playing field when it comes to watching our TV shows and movies and keeping up with pop culture. 78 00:14:07.830 --> 00:14:22.470 Meaghan Roper: And it allows you to get a lot of stuff done. So you can play it on your phone or your TV and and go and fold your laundry or maybe pop in some headphones and put your phone in your pocket and run the vacuum. I know I've definitely done that before. 79 00:14:23.490 --> 00:14:35.430 Sarah Schaidt: Yeah for sure even other other things with media like closed captions. You know, a lot of times people think that they're only for someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, but 80 00:14:35.760 --> 00:14:45.330 Sarah Schaidt: Honestly, I know. I appreciate it if I go out to a noisy restaurant or a bar and there's a TV when they have the closed captions turned on, because I'm able to follow along with what's taking place. 81 00:14:45.750 --> 00:14:54.270 Sarah Schaidt: Or even, you know, sometimes with with TV and movies lately I've noticed that the sound isn't always as loud as 82 00:14:54.600 --> 00:15:08.160 Sarah Schaidt: I would hope it to be, especially if you're going from a very loud action packed scene to some very soft dialogue and closed captions helped me to not miss out on some of what's being said if 83 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:15.840 Sarah Schaidt: My ear doesn't quite catch up to how loud, something is at that point in time so yeah i i feel that a lot of 84 00:15:16.410 --> 00:15:26.640 Sarah Schaidt: Assistive Technology is starting to be embraced by the wider population or community, not just for those that need it to bridge a gap but 85 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:32.790 Sarah Schaidt: People are finding that it's beneficial in everyday life. If you think about audio books. 86 00:15:33.510 --> 00:15:45.930 Sarah Schaidt: Those were originally books for the blind and now audible is such a huge market where folks like to be able to listen to that content while they're driving while they're exercising or just relaxing at home. 87 00:15:47.250 --> 00:16:00.900 Meaghan Roper: That's great. And that's a great transition into the next question I had for you, which is what are some of the major benefits of assistive technology there there's obviously some that folks might not even think about 88 00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:04.950 Meaghan Roper: But, but what do you think are some of the bigger benefits. 89 00:16:05.040 --> 00:16:08.730 Meaghan Roper: Of designing something with accessibility in mind from the get go. 90 00:16:09.630 --> 00:16:28.410 Sarah Schaidt: Sure. So one of the first stories that I think of is a young woman named sad, who actually has a passion for editing videos really enjoys that entire process of creating a story visually CD is also someone who does not have 91 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:38.490 Sarah Schaidt: Access a range of motion to be able to control a keyboard or mouse with her hands and she put together a commercial for Apple. 92 00:16:39.030 --> 00:16:54.630 Sarah Schaidt: You can go and Google it and see a lot of their assistive technology features and Sadie's, the one who edited that video and I think that assistive technology opens doors that were previously closed and allows 93 00:16:55.680 --> 00:17:02.010 Sarah Schaidt: People to kind of perceive ability differently that it's not that she was never able 94 00:17:02.310 --> 00:17:14.400 Sarah Schaidt: To do videos. It's that the technology wasn't available to her and once the technology became available to her. Now it's opened up a whole world for her and for everyone else to be able to appreciate that. 95 00:17:15.210 --> 00:17:26.370 Sarah Schaidt: In the same respect another story that I think of his two sisters their name escapes me right now, but one of them was nonverbal and 96 00:17:27.600 --> 00:17:30.630 Sarah Schaidt: You know the other sister wanted to give her sister, a voice. 97 00:17:31.650 --> 00:17:45.480 Sarah Schaidt: So they found technology that would allow her to type or enter into a tablets to select you know buttons for common phrases are saying, Speak kind of shortcuts. 98 00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:59.400 Sarah Schaidt: And then the younger sister had spent hours recording her own voice, so that this could be adopted to provide her older sister with an actual voice instead of it just sounding like 99 00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:15.330 Sarah Schaidt: Siri or AI or something that would be very mechanical so the fact that technology is really now broadening the horizons for folks for opening doors that were previously close to them and 100 00:18:16.170 --> 00:18:23.100 Sarah Schaidt: Allowing everyone to realize each other's abilities and benefit from them. I think it's just it's spectacular. It's why I do what I do. 101 00:18:24.930 --> 00:18:43.200 Meaghan Roper: That's amazing. I think you did a really good job of illustrating some of the benefits to accessibility and creating things with accessibility in mind. And so that leads me to my next question for you. What happens, what does it look like when 102 00:18:44.280 --> 00:18:56.610 Meaghan Roper: A website or an application or anything is not designed with accessibility in mind. What might it look like for somebody who relies on accessibility and inclusive designed to be able to access something 103 00:18:57.060 --> 00:19:13.230 Meaghan Roper: And can you think of any recent examples that you've encountered where maybe accessibility wasn't so great. And you know what was preventing a user from getting through sort of their, their flow of completing their tasks without assistive technology. 104 00:19:13.590 --> 00:19:15.540 Sarah Schaidt: Sure, sure. So 105 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:28.050 Sarah Schaidt: That's a pretty weighty question. Um, I think that you know when when things are not accessible, it's akin to a building with no doors. 106 00:19:28.950 --> 00:19:37.380 Sarah Schaidt: You know that what you want is inside that building, whether it's, you know, Friends, family food money, whatever it is. 107 00:19:37.710 --> 00:19:47.640 Sarah Schaidt: That you are trying to accomplish or receive you know what's inside that building. But there's no doors or the door is 500 feet up and there's no stairs, it's, it's 108 00:19:48.030 --> 00:20:00.900 Sarah Schaidt: impossible for you to even begin to complete a task and when the web is not accessible. It feels the same way that you know that website has what you need. What you want what you 109 00:20:01.320 --> 00:20:13.260 Sarah Schaidt: Are desiring to accomplish. But you are prevented from doing so. And even with the best of intentions, whether it's using multiple assistive technologies. 110 00:20:14.610 --> 00:20:23.190 Sarah Schaidt: You know, jumping through hoops or circles trying a bunch of different keystrokes and ways to make it happen. If it's not programmed appropriately. 111 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:38.010 Sarah Schaidt: You just you plain don't have access to it and it's it's frustrating. It's discouraging and it's heartbreaking to be in a day and age where most people practically survive off of their mobile phones. 112 00:20:38.610 --> 00:20:43.980 Sarah Schaidt: They're able to accomplish and do everything that way that not everyone has that same access 113 00:20:45.540 --> 00:20:49.950 Sarah Schaidt: So thinking to a, a recent experience. 114 00:20:51.300 --> 00:20:57.660 Sarah Schaidt: I know of a banking application that was fairly accessible. 115 00:20:59.040 --> 00:21:05.040 Sarah Schaidt: You know, users are able to get in with a screen reader and, you know, find out what their balances. 116 00:21:05.430 --> 00:21:19.710 Sarah Schaidt: Look at recent transaction history, maybe even check out their credit score. Lots of great features and very convenient, especially in today's day and age to not have to go into a branch and to be able to do that from how however 117 00:21:20.970 --> 00:21:32.220 Sarah Schaidt: This particular banking app have a lot of features that required specific gestures like swiping in order to pay a bill or deposit a check. 118 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:45.870 Sarah Schaidt: Or things that would require the user to use a camera to deposit the check and you need to be able to line up appropriately and those parts of the app were not accessible to someone who's non visual 119 00:21:47.130 --> 00:22:07.320 Sarah Schaidt: Or potentially to someone who has very limited mobility capabilities to not be able to swipe. And that creates that barrier where they are now unable to have the convenience to do this from home and instead they do have to, you know, go out potentially put themselves at risk, given the 120 00:22:08.730 --> 00:22:16.680 Sarah Schaidt: climate that we're living in right now, or find someone to take them physically to a bank if they're unable to transport themselves. 121 00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:29.610 Sarah Schaidt: So it creates a lot of additional hassle. That could be six. If we just started thinking inclusively at the very beginning design processes coming up with alternative ways to do things. 122 00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:46.140 Sarah Schaidt: One of the biggest myths is that if I make something accessible. It's going to break my design that's not the case. You can have a beautiful functional design that's not only accessible but it's also intuitive and clean and enjoyable for everyone. 123 00:22:48.210 --> 00:23:01.410 Meaghan Roper: Yeah, that's, that's really interesting. I think banking is is one of those things that, obviously, it's very, very important that it's accessible to everybody and I particularly like that you shared the example of folks who might not be able to 124 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:14.190 Meaghan Roper: Travel or get themselves transported to a physical banking location. I think particularly about folks with disabilities that prevent them from being able to drive or 125 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:17.580 Meaghan Roper: You know if they live in an area where they can't access 126 00:23:17.910 --> 00:23:29.070 Meaghan Roper: Public transportation, but I also think about the aging population, for example, where sometimes when folks get older, maybe they stopped driving, but they've retired in a community or an area where 127 00:23:29.490 --> 00:23:36.090 Meaghan Roper: There might be some public transportation, but maybe it doesn't run as often enough. And we know that many physical banks. 128 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:43.740 Meaghan Roper: Operate on sort of the standard corporate hours. So if folks are unable to travel during that time for whatever reason. 129 00:23:43.950 --> 00:23:53.850 Meaghan Roper: The really nice thing about mobile and online banking now is that you can access your banking at pretty much anytime. So I would think that it's super important to make sure that something 130 00:23:54.150 --> 00:24:03.300 Meaghan Roper: Like a banking application or a website where you can manage all of your accounts online is accessible for folks who like to be able to manage all of their banking from home. 131 00:24:04.650 --> 00:24:05.340 Sarah Schaidt: Exactly. 132 00:24:06.210 --> 00:24:09.450 Meaghan Roper: So, in turn, then I'd like to ask you. 133 00:24:10.530 --> 00:24:19.740 Meaghan Roper: About, you know, an example where you've encountered something that is accessible. So what does it look like when you encounter a website or an app. 134 00:24:20.070 --> 00:24:31.770 Meaghan Roper: Or any sort of web content that has been designed with accessibility in mind that is built for end users with any kind of need. And can you also share a recent example of that. 135 00:24:32.610 --> 00:24:42.000 Sarah Schaidt: Sure. So a lot of social media platforms have come a long way in terms of accessibility, which is, I think, super encouraging and the 136 00:24:42.510 --> 00:24:46.860 Sarah Schaidt: A great place for an inclusive design to 137 00:24:47.430 --> 00:24:54.570 Sarah Schaidt: To take place because it social media is about bringing people together. It's about sharing your stories with friends and family. It's about 138 00:24:54.810 --> 00:25:04.740 Sarah Schaidt: connecting with other people, regardless of where you live. I mean, it's removing distance and bringing people closer together. So having social media sites that support. 139 00:25:05.490 --> 00:25:18.510 Sarah Schaidt: Like alt text for example for images. So if I were to share a photograph and you, Megan as a non visual user if I added all packs, you'd be able to hear about 140 00:25:19.260 --> 00:25:30.150 Sarah Schaidt: My daughter baking in the kitchen and making a mess with flour everywhere. And you could make a mental picture of that for yourself and you would be gaining the same experience. 141 00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:44.700 Sarah Schaidt: By my description in the alt text as my, you know, so my other friends and family who are cited who are viewing that photo so it's it's giving everyone that same experience so that everyone can enjoy the memory that I'm trying to share 142 00:25:46.290 --> 00:25:58.470 Sarah Schaidt: Another personal example that I have, as I traveled with another colleague of ours, who's blind and we went to a jazz club and he wanted to share a picture of the jazz musicians. 143 00:25:58.860 --> 00:26:09.720 Sarah Schaidt: On his social media page and he took the photograph and I assisted him and letting him know who was standing were on the stage so that he could add the alt text. 144 00:26:10.020 --> 00:26:19.050 Sarah Schaidt: Of what musician was playing what instruments and where we were at. And that was something that he was able to share with his friends and family. 145 00:26:19.290 --> 00:26:29.790 Sarah Schaidt: Whether they were cited or not. And everyone had the same experience of knowing where we were what we were listening to and how cool it was to be in this old jazz club. 146 00:26:30.330 --> 00:26:41.130 Sarah Schaidt: Listening to this band that's been around forever. So it definitely I think draws people together when you when you have some more of an inclusive and accessible design. 147 00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:49.740 Meaghan Roper: Yeah, that that's that's really important. I think what I like about that, and especially with the example that you shared is that 148 00:26:50.730 --> 00:26:54.600 Meaghan Roper: Including something like alternative text, which is part of inclusive design. 149 00:26:55.320 --> 00:27:06.000 Meaghan Roper: I think about when I put alternative text and photos. Obviously, it enables myself and any other users, you know, across my social media pages to know what's happening in that photo but 150 00:27:06.300 --> 00:27:12.540 Meaghan Roper: Sometimes I know that, for example, Facebook has Facebook memories and it will show me a photo like three years later. 151 00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:22.800 Meaghan Roper: And if it doesn't have alternative text. I'm like, Hmm, I don't remember what this photo is and maybe there's, you know, no caption or anything, but when you include those alternative text. 152 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:30.660 Meaghan Roper: And you have description of what's happening in the photo, then you're like, oh, yes, I know exactly what was happening in this photo, three years ago. I remember taking that 153 00:27:30.990 --> 00:27:46.830 Meaghan Roper: Picture with my family by the beach. So I think that stuff is really important because it helps us to understand what is going on. And like you said helps us to enjoy the information and the experience the same way that our peers do 154 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.840 Sarah Schaidt: For sure. 155 00:27:49.500 --> 00:28:09.210 Meaghan Roper: So I'd like to take some time. Now we're getting towards the end of our podcasts here. I wanted to ask you, Sarah one since we're wrapping up when it comes to accessibility Assistive Technology Assistive Technology and inclusive design. I'm going to say that again. 156 00:28:12.090 --> 00:28:25.410 Meaghan Roper: So since we're coming to the end of our podcast episode here. I wanted to ask you, Sarah when it comes to accessibility assistive technology and inclusive design. Are there any final thoughts that you want to share with our listeners. 157 00:28:26.130 --> 00:28:37.230 Meaghan Roper: About anything that we've talked today about the importance of accessibility and you know why it's beneficial to build everything and design with accessibility in mind. 158 00:28:37.770 --> 00:28:45.630 Sarah Schaidt: Sure. So when you're doing inclusive design. It really means that you're making things work for everyone, regardless of their ability 159 00:28:46.230 --> 00:28:52.380 Sarah Schaidt: And realistically when you make something accessible. And when I say accessible. I don't just mean 160 00:28:53.040 --> 00:28:56.940 Sarah Schaidt: Accessible to assistive technologies. I'm going to even go beyond that to say 161 00:28:57.240 --> 00:29:10.110 Sarah Schaidt: accessible for people who are colorblind, to ensure that there's good color contrast and you're picking the right colors on the screen that you are, you know, typing up tax that's easy for someone with dyslexia to read 162 00:29:11.010 --> 00:29:22.770 Sarah Schaidt: There's a lot to it. There is a wide spectrum of disabilities and a wide spectrum of assistive technologies that users may incorporate and it's impossible. 163 00:29:23.280 --> 00:29:38.850 Sarah Schaidt: If you look at it that way to know where to begin. So instead, it's just trying to make things work for everyone. Instead of pigeonholing different groups and trying to make sure, is this going to work for someone who can't hear. Is this going to work for someone who can't see. 164 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:53.610 Sarah Schaidt: Plus when you are making it in such a way that anyone can access it using one or more of their available senses or one or more assistive technologies you're actually expanding the usability for everyone. 165 00:29:54.030 --> 00:30:03.180 Sarah Schaidt: So I want you to think of someone who maybe has an arm missing. Maybe they lost the arm, they were born without an arm. 166 00:30:03.870 --> 00:30:11.670 Sarah Schaidt: That person would benefit from a mobile application that can be used one handed well so what someone who has a broken arm or A BROKEN HAND AND 167 00:30:12.030 --> 00:30:23.220 Sarah Schaidt: For that temporary time period. They are limited and would only need to use one hand, and at the same time someone who is a new mom and is holding their newborn baby. 168 00:30:23.520 --> 00:30:34.560 Sarah Schaidt: Asleep, and not wanting to wake that child using a mobile device with one hand is also going to be beneficial. So when you are designing with all abilities in mind. 169 00:30:35.340 --> 00:30:48.600 Sarah Schaidt: You without even realizing it end up making it a better experience for everyone. A lot of times, designers and developers feel that disability is an edge case that should be thought of laughed. 170 00:30:49.080 --> 00:30:57.450 Sarah Schaidt: During the whole design process. And I would challenge you to think of it first. That's what inclusive design means is, including these different user types. 171 00:30:57.930 --> 00:31:07.770 Sarah Schaidt: Including people into your UX testing with a variety of abilities, including people into feedback and focus groups because 172 00:31:08.310 --> 00:31:19.110 Sarah Schaidt: You know, going back to the audible example that I gave earlier, that was something that was created originally for blind people so that they could experience books that might not otherwise be 173 00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:30.450 Sarah Schaidt: available to them in Braille and now it is something that everyone really enjoys and relies upon to help them, you know, learn and grow or find entertainment. 174 00:31:30.780 --> 00:31:37.230 Sarah Schaidt: So when we look at it from that perspective that this is not just an edge case and something for a very small group of people 175 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:54.810 Sarah Schaidt: And instead look at it as an opportunity to improve the experience for everyone, whether they have a disability or they're in a situation that they could just plain benefit from having the flexibility to accomplish a task in a different way its overall going to make a better product. 176 00:31:56.220 --> 00:32:05.370 Meaghan Roper: I like the way that you described that accessibility is not just an edge case, it's something that can be beneficial for everybody and make a better user experience overall 177 00:32:06.300 --> 00:32:18.240 Meaghan Roper: All right. Well, thank you, Sarah for talking with me today about assistive technology. I'm looking forward to our upcoming episodes where we're going to deep dive into some of the assistive technology tools that we mentioned 178 00:32:18.600 --> 00:32:25.170 Meaghan Roper: Today in our episode with some other guests. So thank you everybody for listening and we'll see you on the next one.