research-article

"Knowledge Comes Through Participation": Understanding Disability through the Lens of DIY Assistive Technology in Western Kenya

Authors:

Patrick Mbullo Owuor,

Michaela Hynie,

Melanie BaljkoAuthors Info & Claims

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, Volume 6, Issue CSCW1

Article No.: 72, Pages 1 - 25

https://doi.org/10.1145/3512919

Published: 07 April 2022 Publication History

Abstract

People with disabilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) have limited access to digital assistive technologies (ATs). Most ATs in LMICs are manufactured elsewhere and are expensive and difficult to maintain. Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technologies (DIY-ATs) designed, customized, and repaired by non-technical users offer exciting directions in these contexts. We have been exploring the possibilities and challenges of DIY-ATs in Western Kenya, using community-engaged workshops in rural and urban special education schools for the past three years. We present findings from a concluding-stage research activity: a multiple stakeholder focus group where teachers, disability advocates, and representatives from the local government and technology innovation hubs, discussed the possibilities and challenges of addressing disability issues through DIY-ATs in this context. Participants identified opportunities for DIY-ATs for social inclusion, disability assessment, and inclusive education, and shared concerns about their sustainability, safety, and contextual relevance.

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Index Terms

"Knowledge Comes Through Participation": Understanding Disability through the Lens of DIY Assistive Technology in Western Kenya
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Accessibility
    1. Empirical studies in accessibility

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cover image Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction Volume 6, Issue CSCW1

CSCW1

April 2022

2511 pages

EISSN:2573-0142

DOI:10.1145/3530837

Editor:
Jeff Nichols
Apple Inc., United States

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Copyright © 2022 ACM.

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Published: 07 April 2022

Published in PACMHCI Volume 6, Issue CSCW1

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https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3677846.3677847
McDonald NStamato LHamidi F(2024)Connecting in Crisis: Investigating Equitable Community Internet Access in the US During the COVID-19 PandemicACM Journal on Computing and Sustainable Societies10.1145/36773262:3(1-20)Online publication date: 16-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3677326
Loewen GCochrane KGirouard A(2024)From Imagination to Innovation: Using Participatory Design Fiction to Envision the Future of Accessible Gaming Wearables for Players with Upper Limb Motor DisabilitiesProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36770738:CHI PLAY(1-30)Online publication date: 15-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3677073
Crawford KPosada JOkueso YHiggins ELachin LHamidi F(2024)Co-designing a 3D-Printed Tactile Campus Map With Blind and Low-Vision University StudentsProceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility10.1145/3663548.3688537(1-6)Online publication date: 27-Oct-2024
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Higgins ESakowicz MHamidi F(2024)An Ecosystem of Support: A U.S. State Government-Supported DIY-AT Program for Residents with DisabilitiesProceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility10.1145/3663548.3675667(1-16)Online publication date: 27-Oct-2024
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Herskovitz J(2024)DIY Assistive Software: End-User Programming for Personalized Assistive TechnologyACM SIGACCESS Accessibility and Computing10.1145/3654768.3654772(1-1)Online publication date: 26-Mar-2024
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Ayoka GBarbareschi GCave RHolloway C(2024)Enhancing Communication Equity: Evaluation of an Automated Speech Recognition Application in GhanaProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3641903(1-16)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
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Cossovich RChang MFu ZGirouard AHodges S(2024)Co-Designing Accessible Computer and Smartphone Input Using Physical ComputingIEEE Pervasive Computing10.1109/MPRV.2024.341889923:3(39-48)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
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Abdurahman SKabanda S(2024)Factors influencing the design and implementation of accessible e‐Government services in South AfricaTHE ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES10.1002/isd2.1231790:4Online publication date: 31-Jan-2024
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Hamidi FKidane TOwuor PHynie MBaljko M(2023)Supporting Social Inclusion with DIY-ATs: Perspectives of Kenyan Caregivers of Children with Cognitive DisabilitiesACM Transactions on Accessible Computing10.1145/361637816:3(1-27)Online publication date: 21-Sep-2023
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