re-envisioning communication

Re-Envisioning CommunicationUArts MiD + Liberty Resources

Holly BetzMichael Barakat

Sara HallMatt Miller

Published by

211 South Broad Street, 5th FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19102

Copyright © 2010

Re-envisioning CommunicationUArts MiD and Liberty Resources

Mike BarakatHolly BetzSara HallMatt Miller

Copyright © 2010 by Michael Barakat, Holly Betz, and Sara Hall and Matt MillerIllustrations copyright © 2010 by Sara Hall and Matt Miller

Photography credits:Michael Barakat, Holly Betz, and Sara Hall and Matt Miller © 2010

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced–mechanically, elec-tronically, or by any other means, including photocopying–without written permis-sion of the publisher.

Book design by Matt Miller

Masters of Industrial Design at The University of the Arts212 South Broad Street, 5th FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19102

This book is printed in 14 point Verdana because it is the standard font size and type Liberty Resources uses to make their documents accessible.

06 Chapter 1: Liberty Resources

18 Chapter 2: Working With Liberty

30 Chapter 3: Accessible Communication

36 Chapter 4: Design Solutions

48 Chapter 5: Tactile Information

68 Chapter 6: Liberty and MiD Partnership

Table of Contents

Our ProcessThe process for designers is based off of human centered design principles. We establish the problem, gain thorough understanding of that subject, and use design techniques inform research, observations, and actions. To better understand Liberty Resources we worked together to define the problem and our role. We researched Liberty Resources, the

history of disability rights, the Baldrige Award, accessible design, universal design, and existing designs for people with disabilities. We gained trust and understanding by participating in events and meetings, conducting interviews and working with people at Liberty. Taking this information we synthesized and analyze it. We then proposed design solutions and created prototypes presenting the concepts to Liberty.

Liberty Resources

Chapter 1

Liberty Resources

Liberty Resources

9

Liberty Resources is the largest Center for Independent Living in the Philadelphia area. They advocate for and works with persons with disabilities ensuring their civil rights and equal access to all aspects of life in the community.

Liberty Resources believes that everyone has the right to choose where and how he or she lives but, it’s not that easy. Some people who are disabled have lived in nursing facilities their entire lives. This complicated issue is one that Liberty encourages people to overcome: How can you empower people to choose independence? Ultimately, it’s up to the consumer to decide what they want. Through guidance and support, Liberty can help them gain independence. With services provided by Liberty, consumers are able to live in their own homes, as they choose, and be a part of their community. Liberty Resources, a Center for Independent Living, facilitates and aids consumers in fulfilling their right to live how they desire.

Liberty Resources

Everyone has the right to live independently and be an active member of the community

11

Have you ever experienced what it’s like to live in a nursing facility? If you have not experienced it for yourself, you might have heard typical perceptions about the enviroment in nursing facilities: they have a sterile feel or that they are filled with old people. But, one truth can not be denied, all nursing homes remove privacy and civil liberties from an individual’s lifestyle.

Empowerment allows Liberty’s consumers to make personal choices and live free independent lives. It’s the right of everyone to make their own decisions about where they live, what they eat, what time they go to bed, where they go, and what they spend their time doing.

Nursing facilities are the default placement for people who are disabled and have Medicaid for health insurance. “It can be difficult for the extremely disabled to live independently, carry a job, or have children. But, it can be done. And, Liberty Resources mission is to help people live independently,” to Liberty freedom is always worth the effort.

Liberty Resources

Liberty Resources’ Core ServicesLiberty offers four core services that make them a Center for Independent Living. These services assist consumers in living independent and meaningful lives. Liberty and other Centers for Independent Living are able to change peoples lives because of the services they offer.

Information & ReferralHelps individuals and their families fi nd the answers to their questions and disability issues.

Peer Support, counseling, mentoringLiberty staff share their knowledge to help peers make more informed decisions.

AdvocacyProtects and expands the rights of the disabled individual.

Independent Living SkillsTrains consumers with the knowledge and skills they need to live independently.

1313

Liberty Resources OutreachLiberty Resources reaches out to the local nursing facilities to encourage patience to seek a life in the community.

Nursing facilities located within a 5 mile radius of Liberty.

Karen, who has cerebral palsy, is married and has three children. She has been living on her own since 1991. This is her story...

15

Liberty Resources assisted Karen with her transition from a nursing home, where she lived for five years. Prior to living in the nursing home, Karen lived at school. She feels that this experience prepared her for living independently. Since her transition from the nursing home, Karen deals with “general, everyday concerns”. Finances are always a concern.

Karen received transitioning services from Liberty Resources, and is currently receiving Attendant Care Services. She has a message for others considering the transition from a nursing home: “Don’t be scared to do it. Liberty Resources’ role is to educate and assist people who know nothing about independent living.”

Karen is an activist. She is a member of ADAPT and coordinates Consumer Connection at Liberty Resources. She is currently most concerned about the passage of the Community Choice Act.

Liberty Resources

Liberty wants to be the best they can be. To an individual, being your best is very simple - try harder, eat healthier, exercise more, or do whatever it takes to accomplish the goal. To an organization, being better means something, it means benchmarking, process mapping, and reorganizing the structure of the company. Applying for the Baldrige award helps Liberty compare their organization to others of the same size and stature as well as evaluate their performance on a deeper more structured level.

Applying to achieve Baldrige in of itself is a statement that Liberty is committed to being the best in their field. The application process is rigorous 3 stage 3 year process; a demanding feet that requires any organization to go beyond their best effort and rise to the challenge. Baldrige focuses on 7 areas: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, measurement and knowledge management, human resource focus, process management, and results.

Liberty is working to improve their competitiveness and performance throught the use of The Baldrige Award

17

Bringing in an Outside Perspective To gain a better understanding of how Liberty could better their company they brought in UArts MiD students to gain an outside perspective, and broaden their scope. By allowing our team to join liberty we were able to use design processes and techniques to discover solutions that would help Liberty’s communication become more efficient and effective.

Chapter 2

Working with Liberty


Using the Baldrige Award as a platform to improve internal communication Through analyzing the results of the Baldrige Explorer and Baldrige Express surveys, Liberty managers concluded that communication was one of two areas that need improvement; a communication team was then formed. They enlisted the help of Baldrige Award consultant, who previously worked with many companies assisting them in working towards the award. The communication team was tasked with discovering Liberty’s communication processes, determining its strengths and opportunities for improvement, prioritizing these opportunities, and sharing with the company.

lead by2 Co-Chairs

working with4 MiD Designers

representing11 Departments

liasions for330+ employees

guiding

17 Members

working with1 baldrige consultant

Empowering 7200 Consumers

Meet the Communication Team

23

Matt Millergraphic, web, and interactive design and skills in programming

Holly Betz landscape architecture and an interest in public art

Sara Hall architecture and skills in multimedia and visualization

Mike Barakatfi lm and video focusing on the behavior of people

Meet the MiD Designers

Meet the ConsumerLiberty Resources is a consumer driven organization. The term consumer comes from Ralph Nader and his push for consumerism, an idea that gives people the power to make their own decisions. Empowerment is something that Liberty Resource’s believes in.

Organizational Levels of the Communication Team

25

Communication Team

The diversity of the communication team makes them a well-rounded group. Allowing for input to come from assistants, managers, directors and representatives from all levels of the company giving everyone a voice. Some members of the team are new hires that have only been working for Liberty Resources for a few months, while others have been working there for many years. This diversity enables everyone in Liberty to have a voice.


Mike Smith Mike Smith, the Director of Quality Management, was our main contact person at Liberty. He was eager to help Liberty better their practices and communication so that they can better serve the consumer as well as to obtain the Baldrige Award.

Our space at Liberty

Karen FowKaren is the administrative assistant to Mike Smith. She documents and distributes important meeting information. Karen became an asset to us because she kept us informed about what is and was going on at Liberty.

27

Offi ce SpaceThe offi ce space we were given became our meeting place at Liberty. We held our weekly group meetings here and were able to interact with Liberty employees on a more natural level.


Communication inventory, imagining a new structure When synthesizing the data from a survey administered at Liberty we instantly thought of Edward Tufte, an expert on data analysis and display design. We took the spreadsheets of information gathered from the survey, worked our designerly magic on them, and developed a creative, visual, and colorful way of displaying information. It was exciting, fun, and visually pleasing but they were useless to Liberty: the visualization of the information was not accessible. We quickly learned that any chart or spreadsheet had to be made accessible to the visually impaired, meaning that every data set made into a visual graphic needs a narrative explanation to accompany it, making it screen reader accessible.

29

HCBS - Intake

HCBS - Allentown

HCBS - Philly

Comm & Dev

QM IT STS HR ODT Housing Academy FMS ILS Lib Wheels

Total

Advocacy / Actions

Co-Workers / team

CTS

CTS and HCIS

Database

Directives

Drive - Q / T Drive

Drive - Q Drive

Drive - Shared drive

Email

External Vendors / sources

Fax

HCBS Staff Mtg

HCSIS Plans

Housing Drive

HR Recruiter

Informal (ex: lunch after work)

Intake Folder

Internal Gossip

Internet

Liberty Lite

Mail - Inner Office

Mail - Mail Box

Mail - Snail Mail

Manual

Meetings - 1:1 Meetings

Meetings - Other

Meetings - Staff

Meetings - Team

Memos

Monthly Reports

New Hires

Newsletter

OLTL

Outlook Calendar

Papers

Phone

Pod Meetings

Reports

Research

Rumor Mill

SAF’s

Social Software

Spreadsheets

Supervision - My Direct Supervisor

Supervision - Supervision

Supervision - Supervisors

Surveys

Training

Wall - Flyers / Posters

Wall - Wall Postings

Website

Written Instructions

X 1X X X X 4

X 1X 1

X 1X 1

X 1X 1

X 1X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13

X 1X 1

X X 2X 1

X 1X 1

X 1X 1

0X 1

X 1X 1

X X 2X X X 3

X 1X X X X X 5

X 1X X X X X X X X X X X 11

X X X X 4X X X X 4

X 1X 1

X X 2X 1

X 1X 1

X X X X X X X X 8X 1

X X 2X 1

X X X X X 5X 1X X X X X X X X X X X X 12X 1

X X X X X X 6X X X 3

X X X 3X 1X X X X 4

X X 2X 1X 1

X 1

DAILYONGOINGMETHODS of communication (Organized by frequency)

WEEKLY MONTHLY ANNUALLY

TYPE of Communicationfrom highest to lowestFormalOne-WayTwo-WayInformalElectronicSpokenPaperVerticalHorizontal

PURPOSE of Communicationfrom highest to lowestEducateShare Information/NewsProvide UpdatesReinforce LRI Mission, Vision, ValuesCommunicate/Encourage ChangeObtain Ideas/Feedback/InformationEncourage InvolvementRecognize Success

Social Software

Email Email Email Email Email

Team Meetings Team Meetings

Supervision Supervision

Trainings

Memos

Phone

Co-Workers

Pod Meetings

STS COMMUNICATION INVENTORY SUMMARY

Accessible Communication

Chapter 3



In Liberty’s internal drive, as shown, each document requires two fi le types: a pdf or

word document and a plain text document to make it accessible.

Liberty’s accessible policy, create two of everything

.txt.doc

+ = Accessibility.pdf

33

Screenreaders are software programs that understand text documents and translate them into speech for people with low-vision and visual impairments. To guarantee that screenreaders can traverse a document, Liberty has implemented a policy that requires every document be accompanied by a plain text document.

While two document types ensures accessibility, this only compounds challenges such as organizing the public storage drive and email overload. This is a good example of one of the pitfalls of perceived accessibility: when every file has a plain text file as well as the orginal file format, the user is confronted with a confusing mass of documents.


Information must meet the needs of the user

Liberty employs and communicates with people who have a wide range of cognitive and sensory disabilities, therefore communication is provided in formats that meet the needs of each ability level. If there is a handout at a meeting in which a blind staff member is present, a braille version of this handout must be provided for them. While this may sound like a difficult task, it’s something that Liberty is able to consistently provide. One document that is a pdf can be formed into multiple diverse documents to accommodate different users needs.

.pdf

35

plain text fi lesPlain text fi les ensure that text-to-speech programs can read all of the information.

braille Braille documents are accessible to low-vision and blind readers. Letters and words are created with a combination of six raised dots.

large printText is printed in a large font size that helps low-vision people to read. Many books are available in large print.

summarizedOrdinary documents may be hard for people with cognitive disabilities to understand. Information can be simplifi ed to provide “just the facts” for this user group.

.txt

Design Solutions

Chapter 4

Design Solutions

Design Solutions

39

Initial Design SolutionsFrom what we learned at Liberty, what could we design?

After working with Liberty, we discovered that Liberty could benefit from an outside view on how to improving communication. We held a charrette and generated over thirty ideas concepts that could possibly be implemented at Liberty. We noticed patterns in our developments that spoke to the different ways we could help Liberty Resources. They included ideas that brought awareness to what it is like to have a disability, ideas that solved some of the problems that many people with disabilities face, and ideas that helped Liberty specifically. From these ideas we chose a few that had the most potential, further developed them and develop more concepts.

To broaden our design ideas we held another round of rapidly developing interventions to get a second set of design solutions with stronger ideas. These ideas were grounded in the idea that helping Liberty would also help the larger population of people with disabilities.

Design Solutions

Blocks multiple senses at a time.

Scans, shreds, and make information more accessible.

Defines how emails should be composed.

Tailors communication to your need.

41

How can we best help Liberty?As designers, we want to fulfill our role. We asked ourselves these questions in order to best determine how we can aid Liberty:

1. What can we deliver to them that no one else can?

2. What can be implemented at Liberty?

3. What is most related to internal communication and Liberty’s specific needs?

From this we were able to narrow down and modify the concepts we developed.

41

Design Solutions

After analyzing the design ideas we developed, we found that many of the ideas were addressing ways to organize information and make it accessible. Through documenting the ways to make information accessible in several forms it will make information accessible. These documents can be used for internal reference, and keep Liberty staff aware of current standards and future standards as they are developed. To implement the adoption and acceptance of the best practices there will need to be training for the new employees, friendly email reminders for current staff, and memos for newly developed standards. To make best practices a part of Liberty’s culture it will have a home on Microsoft Sharepoint, a portal for internal communication, so that it can become a living document.

Why It’s ImportantPlain text files (which use .txt as the file extentsion) ensure that the file is accessible to all. These files include text only. The simplicity of the file allows screenreaders and other accessibility aide to comprehend the information easily.

Best Practice Number 4

Plain Text (.txt)

Uses

Shared FilesAlways include a plain text file in addition to other file types on the shared drive.

Have a great day!This email includes an image of a yellow smilely face.

.pdf

+ = optimum accessibility

.txt.doc

E-mailWhen including images as attachments or embedded within an e-mail, make sure text is included in the body of the email summarizing what the image is. The image below shows an example of how to do this. The body of the e-mail includes an image (a yellow smiley face). In order to describe this, the text, “This email includes an image of a yellow smiley face.” accompanies the content of the email, “Have a great day!”. This ensures that the image does not confuse the reader or the accessibility aide.

Setting the standard for accessible communications in the workplace

Plain text files (which use .txt as the file extentsion) ensure that the file is accessible to all. These files include text only. The simplicity of the file allows screenreaders and other accessibility aide to comprehend the

Always include a plain text file in addition to other file types on the shared

optimum accessibility

When including images as attachments or embedded within an e-mail, make sure text is included in the body of the email summarizing what the image is. The image below shows an example of how to do this. The body of the e-mail includes an image (a yellow smiley face). In order to describe this, the text, “This email includes an image of a yellow smiley face.” accompanies the content of the email, “Have a great day!”. This ensures that the image does not confuse the reader or the accessibility aide.

Setting the standard for accessible communicationsin the workplace

Plain text files (which use .txt as the file extentsion) ensure that the file is accessible to all. These files include text only. The simplicity of the file allows screenreaders and other accessibility aide to comprehend the

Always include a plain text file in addition to other file types on the shared

When including images as attachments or embedded within an e-mail, make sure text is included in the body of the email summarizing what the image is. The image below shows an example of how to do this. The body of the e-mail includes an image (a yellow smiley face). In order to describe this, the text, “This email includes an image of a yellow smiley face.” accompanies the content of the email, “Have a great day!”. This ensures that the image does not confuse the reader or the accessibility aide.


First, you want to generate as many as ideas as possible. Don’t shoot ideas down or discredit them—every idea counts! Write each idea down on a

Now that all the ideas are out on the table, it’s time to organize them. Look for common topics and themes and group these related ideas together. Re-write the ideas on post-it notes, using one note per idea. This will allow you

Now that ideas are organized, the group will need to select which ideas are the best. Discuss as a group which ideas best address the original

It can be helpful to listen to a meeting afterwards—you might hear things

If one person has the responsibility to take notes, this will free the other people in the meeting to focus on the agenda. Ideally the note-taker is

1. Generate 2. Organize 3. Select

This graphic shows visually the process described above.














Why It’s ImportantImages and graphics are meant to enable the audience to understand more complex information. It’s been said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” However, for those that are visually impaired, the same picture is only worth the explanation given with it.

People with visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and hearing loss are just a few of the audience members to design for. Make your output more accessible to everyone. . How to Do ItTo meet accessibility needs, try your next meeting with blindfolds on, earplugs, or through other means. Doing this will help you understand the needs of your audience.

The photo to the left depicts two individuals in a small room seated away from each other. The male person in the meeting wears a blindfold. The other female person has her mouth open as if speaking, while the blind folded person listens.


Images and Graphics Understood through Explanation


Images and graphics are meant to enable the audience to understand more complex information. It’s been said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” However, for those that are visually impaired, the same picture is only

People with visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and hearing loss are just a few of the audience members to design for. Make your output more

To meet accessibility needs, try your next meeting with blindfolds on, earplugs, or through other means. Doing this will help you understand the


Images and Graphics Understood


Images and graphics are meant to enable the audience to understand more complex information. It’s been said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” However, for those that are visually impaired, the same picture is only

People with visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and hearing loss are just a few of the audience members to design for. Make your output more

To meet accessibility needs, try your next meeting with blindfolds on, earplugs, or through other means. Doing this will help you understand the


Images and Graphics Understood E-mail as a ReminderE-mail can be used as a reminder by delaying delivery of an e-mail until a certian time. For example, you could delay delivery on the e-mail so it can be sent early in the morning when the office opens.When composing a new message, select “Options” from the main tool bar. Once in the “Options” dialouge box, navigate to “Delivery Options” section. You can then check the box next to the option “Do not deliver before:” and customize the date and time for when you want the message to be delivered.

Using ReplyWhen replying to an e-mail, only include information relevant to that particular e-mail. If your replying to an invite for lunch, do not add information about an upcoming meeting or project. A new e-mail should be started for this. Also, do not change the subject of an e-mail in the middle of a thread, it should remain the same for the duration of the e-mail conversation until it is finished.

E-mail can be used as a reminder by delaying delivery of an e-mail until a certian time. For example, you could delay delivery on the e-mail so it can

When composing a new message, select “Options” from the main tool bar. Once in the “Options” dialouge box, navigate to “Delivery Options” section. You can then check the box next to the option “Do not deliver before:” and customize the date and time for when you want the message to be

When replying to an e-mail, only include information relevant to that particular e-mail. If your replying to an invite for lunch, do not add information about an upcoming meeting or project. A new e-mail should be started for this. Also, do not change the subject of an e-mail in the middle of a thread, it should remain the same for the duration of the e-mail

E-mail can be used as a reminder by delaying delivery of an e-mail until a certian time. For example, you could delay delivery on the e-mail so it can

When composing a new message, select “Options” from the main tool bar. Once in the “Options” dialouge box, navigate to “Delivery Options” section. You can then check the box next to the option “Do not deliver before:” and customize the date and time for when you want the message to be

When replying to an e-mail, only include information relevant to that particular e-mail. If your replying to an invite for lunch, do not add information about an upcoming meeting or project. A new e-mail should be started for this. Also, do not change the subject of an e-mail in the middle of a thread, it should remain the same for the duration of the e-mail


E-mail is regarded as one of the most reliable but congested sources of communication used by LRI. Using these simple tips can help make e-mail easier, accessible and more efficient to use for everyone.

Select BCC (blind carbon copy) rather than CC (carbon copy) when sending an e-mail to large amounts of people. For example, when letting people know of a new hire send the e-mail to the company within BCC, not CC. This ensures that when someone uses reply all it only goes to the new hire.

BCC is the fourth field from the top when

Always Include a clear and concise subject, ideally summarizing what the email is about. Avoid using one-word subjects. For example, a subject of “Meeting Minutes” is not as effective and accessible as “Meeting Minutes

Another technique is to add the necessary response time and what it is in regaurd to. For example “Consumer Issue!! Please respond in 48 hours”




BCC is the fourth field from the top when composing an email.






BCC is the fourth field from the top when composing an email.




Tips for keeping things moving forward: At the start of the meeting1. Have a clear goal – This will help ensure the meeting stays on topic. It

also provides a way to measure if the meeting was successful at the end. 2. Have a structured agenda – Make it clear what needs to be addressed

in a meeting. For example, what questions or topics will this meeting include?

3. Set milestones – These are short term goals with time limits that help keep your meeting flowing. For example, stating that the group will brainstorm problems for 20 minutes, then discuss the results for another 20 minutes, and finally brainstorm solutions for 20 minutes.

At the end of the meeting4. What was achieved – How many goals and agenda items were

achieved? What items still need to be addressed in the next meeting? 5. Next steps – Discuss what actions need to be taken.6. Assign tasks – Who will t these topics?

Effective Brainstorming In a GroupBrainstorming is a good way to generate ideas and solutions. An effective brainstorming process will help ensure that everyone’s idea is heard and considered. The following is a good process:

Define a TopicTo effectively brainstorm you will need a clear topic. Decide as a group what topic, problem, or issue you want to address.


Making the Most out of Meetings


Tips for keeping things moving forward: At the start of the meeting1. Have a clear goal – This will help ensure the meeting stays on topic. It

also provides a way to measure if the meeting was successful at the end. 2. Have a structured agenda – Make it clear what needs to be addressed

in a meeting. For example, what questions or topics will this meeting include?

3. Set milestones – These are short term goals with time limits that help keep your meeting flowing. For example, stating that the group will brainstorm problems for 20 minutes, then discuss the results for another 20 minutes, and finally brainstorm solutions for 20 minutes.

At the end of the meeting4. What was achieved – How many goals and agenda items were

achieved? What items still need to be addressed in the next meeting? 5. Next steps – Discuss what actions need to be taken.6. Assign tasks – Who will t these topics?

Effective Brainstorming In a GroupBrainstorming is a good way to generate ideas and solutions. An effective brainstorming process will help ensure that everyone’s idea is heard and considered. The following is a good process:

Define a TopicTo effectively brainstorm you will need a clear topic. Decide as a group what topic, problem, or issue you want to address.


Making the Most out of Meetings

Setting the standard for accessible communications in

the workplace.

Best Practices

43


Why It’s ImportantImages and graphics are meant to enable the audience to understand more complex information. It’s been said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” However, for those that are visually impaired, the same picture is only worth the explanation given with it.

People with visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and hearing loss are just a few of the audience members to design for. Make your output more accessible to everyone. . How to Do ItTo meet accessibility needs, try your next meeting with blindfolds on, earplugs, or through other means. Doing this will help you understand the needs of your audience.



Images and Graphics Understood through Explanation

Explaining why Liberty uses this technique.

Explaining who it helps.

Explaining how to do this technique.

Title of technique.

Design Solutions

Making Liberty a Resource

July 2010

… a monthly community calendar of events in Philadelphia, by and for Consumers of Liberty Resources, Inc.

Page 1 of 6

Unless otherwise noted, activities take place at Liberty Resources, 714 Market Street, Suite 100, Philadelphia. You can list an event by calling 215-634-2000, Ext. 266 by the 18th of the month.

Every Weekday:

ADAPT Pretzel sale, 50¢ each or 3 for $1.40.

Independence Arts Studio Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM.

Every Tuesday: Youth Social Group, Anyone ages 18 to 30 is welcome to attend, 1:00–3:00 PM. Help plan social activities and provide support for each other. Call Hope, Ext. 214.

Every Wednesday:

Legal Advocacy – Free advice and representation on general legal problems for people with disabilities, provided by the Legal Advocacy for Consumers Program of Temple University’s Law School. Please arrange appointment. Call 215-204-1800.

Pink and Blue, Church of St. Luke the Epiphany, Blue Room, 330 S. 13th

Street, 7:00–9:00 PM. A free support and resource exchange group for people with mental illness who are bisexual, gay, inter-sex, lesbian, transgender, or questioning adults. Please arrive no later than 7:15 PM. Call 215-546-0300, Ext. 3301 or 215-627-0424.

“Best Practices” Tip of the Month:

If you walk, you meet people. Take a walk and meet someone new today.

Ceclia from ILS brings up a great point. Physically moving to someone’s office space allows you to meet new people in LRI and become familiar with your work environment.

Liberty Resources should not only adopt a more unifi ed companywide acceptance of accessible communication and best practices, but Liberty should stand out and become known as an advocate for accessible information. Through making their practices visible on their website, and relating personal stories to the guidelines it will be easier for people to embrace techniques for accessible communication and understand why they are important. This acceptance should not only happen internally but Liberty should become a source of information for companies that want to become accessible.

45

July 2010

… a monthly community calendar of events in Philadelphia, by and for Consumers of Liberty Resources, Inc.

Page 1 of 6

Unless otherwise noted, activities take place at Liberty Resources, 714 Market Street, Suite 100, Philadelphia. You can list an event by calling 215-634-2000, Ext. 266 by the 18th of the month.

Every Weekday:

ADAPT Pretzel sale, 50¢ each or 3 for $1.40.

Independence Arts Studio Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM.

Every Tuesday: Youth Social Group, Anyone ages 18 to 30 is welcome to attend, 1:00–3:00 PM. Help plan social activities and provide support for each other. Call Hope, Ext. 214.

Every Wednesday:

Legal Advocacy – Free advice and representation on general legal problems for people with disabilities, provided by the Legal Advocacy for Consumers Program of Temple University’s Law School. Please arrange appointment. Call 215-204-1800.

Pink and Blue, Church of St. Luke the Epiphany, Blue Room, 330 S. 13th

Street, 7:00–9:00 PM. A free support and resource exchange group for people with mental illness who are bisexual, gay, inter-sex, lesbian, transgender, or questioning adults. Please arrive no later than 7:15 PM. Call 215-546-0300, Ext. 3301 or 215-627-0424.

“Best Practices” Tip of the Month:

If you walk, you meet people. Take a walk and meet someone new today.

Ceclia from ILS brings up a great point. Physically moving to someone’s office space allows you to meet new people in LRI and become familiar with your work environment.

Chapter 5

Tactile Information

Tactile Information

49

Tactile Material StudyHow can we make 3D tactile qualities out of 2D information? The development of tactile graphics became an important concept for us. We found out that information graphics were not accessible to some of Liberty’s employees and wanted to develop a way to make them accessible. With accessibility in mind, we did material studies of ways to display information tactically.

Tactile Information

Choosing the dataIn order to gain a realistic assessment of the different tactile graphics, we referenced a real data set when constructing the tactile graphics. We used the percentages pertaining to Liberty from this table and developed tactile graphics using various methods. .

Introducing tactile qualities to two dimensional data

5151

Quick Draw PaperThis product is marketed as an art product for blind children. It’s expensive at $30 for 10 sheets and only available online. It requires painting on the data with a brush, making it impractical for quick production. Since the paper is sensitive to moisture, the fi nished piece has a short life-span.

Tactile Information

MatboardCut-out graphs are a low-tech way to display data. Graphs can be layered on top of each other, allowing for comparisons of different data sets. These are cut from matboard so they simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

53

Pixel BlocksPixel Blocks make creating 3D information graphics easier because of their modularity and standard size. Pixel Blocks were small, hard to work with, and hard to navigate with your finger.

Tactile Information

Layered FoamLayered foam information graphics are a low cost way of representing data tactically. Even though it is nice to feel the foam graphics, it is hard to contextualize the information when it is represented as a standalone object.

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Laser CutAlthough laser cut graphics are more exact then other materials we tried, their production requires time, materials, and resources that make it a difficult process for Liberty to do themselves.

Tactile Information

Feedback from Fran and CeciliaFeedback from employees

After presenting our tactile graphics to Cecilia and Fran, who have low vision, we realized that the way we presented the data in information graphics was not useful in the work place. Cecilia suggested that the Quick Draw Paper would be a great teaching and learning tool for grade school children. She emphasized that these techniques for presenting information would be good for maps and art but information provided in the workplace is easier to interpret as an audible file. Although it seems that the prototypes we made were not successful for Cecilia and Fran they could be helpful to make the information more accessible for other people.

Tactile Information

An Accessible MicrowaveDoes one design work for everyone?Universal design aims to create products and environments that are accessible to everyone. Traditionally, everything is designed for the able bodied. This excludes the population of people that have disabilities: physical, cognitive, comprehensive, and sensory. Universal design allows equal use of products and systems by everyone.

Accessible Design Features:

Talks to you: “Set minutes...”

Both images & picture labels

Single notched knob

Oversized start & stop buttons

Tactile Information

Tactile CameraA blurb about this device.

Mention red dot award.

Designers just dont see it

These haptic devices decrease the user group because they do not provide visual imagery. Unless you are low-vision or blind, these devices serve no function. What if the tactile instant camera, for example, captured a visual & tactile image? Then, blind and sighted users alike could use this device making them accessible to a higher percentage of the population.

Tactile instant camera

Braille translator

Tactile GPS

Haptic surface Braille Kindle

Tactile keyboard Touch screens

Transition to Touch As input devices continue to move towards touch-screens, tactile feedback is lost.

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Final prototype:

Overlay has cutout

keys that help lock-in

fi ngers

Blue sky concept:

Keys raise only

when keyboard is

active

Chapter 6

Liberty & MiD Partnership


Learning Through Experience We designed a simple exercise and presented to the Communication Team.Our experiences at Liberty Resources gave us a greater appreciation for making information and communication more accessible. One thing that struck us as designers is how much we rely on visuals, especially when giving a presentation. To make presentations more successful, know your information and be able to describe the importance of what is in your presentation

During our presentation to the communication team, we chose to demonstrate how difficult it is to understand what is happening during a presentation when your sight is removed. We blindfolded the team and presented what we learned over the course of the semester. To make information clear in a presentation you need to be able to communicate well.

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Opening a Dialogue With Tom Earle & Linda Dezenski

After working with Liberty, the client, regularly for thirteen weeks, we were all eager to present our feedback and ideas to the CEO, Tom Earle and the COO, Linda Dezenski. We found Liberty to be an inspiring place, and we llustrated this in our presentation. It was well received and both Tom and Linda expressed interest in moving forward with our proposals.

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Developing a relationship between the design community and accessible

Tom and Linda were excited about our openness to the idea of accessible design. Tom explained that in their previous work with the design community they faced reluctance to change and adaptation.

Moving Forward with Liberty

1. Talk with Liberty staff and document their accessibility stories

2. Participate in Day of Sharing

3. Continue to research and develop new solutions for accessibility

4. Help position Liberty as leading the way in accessible communication

re-envisioning communication

Documents