Three weeks ago we celebrated our nation’s Independence Day. Today we’re here to rejoice in and celebrate another “independence day,” one that is long overdue. With today’s signing of the landmark Americans for Disabilities Act, every man, woman, and child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence, and freedom.
President George H. W. Bush at the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act July 26, 1990
This year we celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. What an important piece of legislation, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, such as transportation, employment, accommodations in public spaces, communications and access to state and local government programs and services. And, as far as we’ve already come, there is so much more work to be done.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, accessible at-home tests for people who are blind or have low vision are finally available. Spread the word! 🙂 And, according to Harvard Business Review, the telehealth era is just beginning. Virtual visits may have been popular during the peak of the pandemic, but they continue to offer several benefits, particularly to people with disabilities, like increasing access to specialized healthcare providers, avoiding exposure to contagious infections to vulnerable individuals in crowded waiting rooms and removing the need for transportation to a distant clinic. These are just a few examples of ideas that can promote better health outcomes for everyone, including those with disabilities, in our communities.
Using your human-centered design super powers, what ideas (Step 3 – Ideate) do you have that would help celebrate this year’s anniversary of the ADA?
You’ve probably observed a situation that needs to be improved in your daily life. Perhaps you’ve even identified a gap between the current state (the problem) and the desired state (the goal) of a process or a product. Maybe it’s the current wait time until the next episode is released in the latest streaming series that you can’t get enough of. Or, you have an idea that would bring back your favorite pizza. Wait, that one is already taken? No problem. It’s time for a design challenge.
It’s your turn to make something happen. Are you ready?
Health design thinking involves putting your ideas, information, observations and anything else that matters into the context of a human-centered problem statement. Think of a human-centered problem as an unmet need in someone’s life. Here are some examples, from the user’s perspective:
I am a wheelchair user and my health is important to me. At each visit, my doctor’s office asks me how much I weigh instead of checking it like they do for other patients. This makes me frustrated and feel like they don’t care as much about me.
I have Down syndrome and work at my neighborhood grocery store. I would like to be treated like anyone else my age. However, people talk to me like I’m a little kid. Even my doctor does it! This makes me feel like people underestimate me.
I was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in elementary school and I’m in college now. Sometimes I have difficulty concentrating. It affects me during conversations with my doctor. I understand better when there are visuals/diagrams provided. However, I feel like people will think I’m not intelligent if I ask for help.
A good problem statement produces a clear statement of the issue that the designer seeks to address, maintaining the focus on the user at all times.
So, now that you know how to develop a human-centered problem statement, you, too can say, “challenge…accepted!”
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