PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT | INCLUSIVE DESIGN

Blind People’s Association

ROLE

system Designer

AWARDS

M.Phasis Design Award

CHALLENGE

To develop a learning aid for children aged 6-14 with multiple disabilities — Partial blindness with cerebral palsy, autism, locomotor disabilities and other cognitive disabilities using an affordable and commercially viable product.

INSIGHT AND IDEA

The main findings were through participatory observations over the course of four weeks and professional long form conversational interviews with an occupational therapist.

The class had a total of 14 children with a different complexity of the disability. Their needs and learning capacities differ from each other too. To understand the needs better and staying inclusive in the approach, a case study of a participant with locomotor disabilities, cerebral palsy and partial blindness gave the following insights:

Most learning happened through a medium of games and outdoor play. To keep them engaged through activities was a tool for increasing attention span and their motor skills.
Objects that have a light and sound attached to them were given more attention by the children.
Happiness was key in any learning process for the children.

SOLUTION

Loopers are a modular learning tool that uses a simple form of a loop and a knot to teach simple commands like open and close, in and out, attach and detach, connect and disconnect.

Loopers were made using a neon nylon cord inside a plastic cord for them to shine in the UV room. These rooms were a part of the facility as it helps inform the educators of the vision of the child, if the child is able to see the glowing object in the room.

Non-toxic plastic (PP) was chosen as the material to ensure durability and washability.

The entire product came down to 10 cents per piece making it a highly commercially viable product.