The document discusses the online community Enabled by Design (EbD), which was created to share experiences and views on assistive equipment. EbD aims to raise awareness about improving the functionality and aesthetics of assistive devices. The community advocates for mainstreaming accessibility to remove stigma and make independent living easier. EbD has over 500 registered users and its online presence continues to grow.

1. Enabled by Design:
the who, what and why
Shropshire Disability Network: 9th December 2010
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

2. Hello!
This is Denise…
• Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS)
diagnosed in 2003
• MS is a neurological condition that’s each case
unpredictable, variable and different in
• Symptoms include: fatigue, weakness, and
numbness, visual disturbance, poor balance
vertigo
• Use wide tasks more manageable
day-to-day
range of assistive equipment to make
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

3. Plastic people…
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

4. Ikea
The battle of the bland…
• Ugly, clinical looking assistive equipment =
DEPRESSING
• Grateful for fact helped me to keep independence
• Frustrated as home looked more and more like a
hospital
• Surely this CAN’T be the way it has to be…
• Looked for alternative mainstream products that did
same job
• Very aware ofof others with similar experiences as
well as support
fact people benefit from learning,
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

5. Sharing
Doing our bit…
• From experiences and learning, decided to
set up online community
• Platform to share experiences and views on
assistive equipment
• Raising awareness of need to improve both
functionality and aesthetics
• Result was Enabled by Design
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

6. Definition of Enabled by Design…
EbD
A community of people
passionate about those well
designed everyday products
that help to make day-to-day
tasks that little bit easier. By
sharing their loves, hates and
ideas, Enabled by Design-ers
challenge the one-size-fits-all
approach to assistive
equipment through the use of Source: http://www.writeonnewjersey.com/2009/08/only-
clever modern design. the-english-could-have-invented-this-language/
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

7. Enabled by Design’s ethos
It’s time we start recognising people for
being just that, people Stereo-
types
and
move away from ill-informed stereotypes
often applied to ageing and disability
Our ethos:
“We believe the world is made up of people
who have a range of abilities, each person
having their own personal strengths and
qualities. We’re passionate about
harnessing these strengths to empower
people to live as independently as
possible.”
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

8. Design for All (DfA)
Design for All (DfA) is a design philosophy
targeting the use of products, services and
systems by as many people as possible
without the need for adaptation. Design for
All is design for human diversity, social
inclusion and equality.
Closely related to Inclusive Design and
Universal Design
Result:
Products and services suitable for general
public including older people and people with
disabilities
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

9. Accessibility for the Masses
By mainstreaming accessibility, this can help
to remove any stigma attached to
independent living products, while making
people's lives that bit easier and in turn more
manageable. For us, Design for All means
accessibility for the masses.
Mainstream
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

10. www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

11. www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

12. EbD in numbers
Registered users: 500+
Web traffic
overall visitors: 35 000
page views: 150 000
Twitter: 3200+ followers
Facebook: 600+ fans
Stats accurate as of 20th November
2010 since launch of new site 18th
March 2009
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

13. Add bringing online and offline
Bringing on and offline
together slide!!!
together…
We are
EbD
We are Enabled by Design event held at
Design Museum in London, June 2010
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

14. What we’re proud of…
EbD
• Featured in following publications/
Enabled by Design in
websites: Society Guardian, Guardian
Society
Guardian
the media:
supplement - Social pioneers, MS
Society’s MS Matters, Disability Now,
Society Guardian: Style counsel (front page) –
Disability Product News, Community
18th March 2009
Care, Arthritis Care’s No Limits, BBC
Guardian supplement – Social pioneers:
Technology and Design Week
Playtime for ideas – 18th March 2009
• Awards and nominations
Disability Now: Designs for living (web watch
• Speaking at feature) – May 2009 about
events/conferences
our work
Disability Product News: Looking good (double page spread) – May 2009
Community Care: Website Focus – Enabled by Design – July 2009
• Case study on Enabled by Design
Arthritis Care’s NCVO
produced by No Limits: Design for life – August/September 2009
• “We are Enabled by Design” event
BBC Technology: Social media ‘could transform public services’ – November 2009
• www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

15. Enabled by
Design-er
Community member
Denise Walbrugh says…
“Enabled by Design has
been a real beacon of how
things should be, kit-wise
and attitude-wise too, and
has helped me a lot, as
I’m sure it has others”.
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

16. Win one of ten limited edition
OXO Good Grips Y peelers
Pants
Peeler
Amnesty
• Send entries to: denise@enabledbydesign.org
• Closing date: 12pm on 17th December 2010
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

17. What the future holds for
Enabled by Design…
New website – four sections: Our
Stuff, Hacks, Shop and Blog future
plans
• Improved accessibility
• Improved user experience
• Social media integration
• Affiliate marketplace with reviews
• Lowering barriers to getting community involved
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

18. Beyond products: design for all
Network of people interested in Design for All Where
next?
Partnerships key
Physical accessibility
EbD meets AccessCity meets Pesky People OLILI
Workplace accessibility
Public service design
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

19. accesscity: the prototype
http://beta.accesscity.co.uk

21. Any
questions?
What are your
loves and hates?
Thank you for listening!
www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby