Denise discusses living with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) which causes extreme fatigue, unpredictable visual impairments such as blurred or double vision, and poor dexterity. She advocates for Design for All, an inclusive design philosophy that creates products for the widest possible audience without need for special adaptation. Denise also highlights how accessibility features of her MacBook Air like zoom functions and text-to-speech help her overcome MS symptoms to access the internet.

1. MS, my Mac and me… a11yLDN – 21st September 2010 www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

3. MS is a neurological condition that’sunpredictable, variable and different in each case

4. My main symptoms include…www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

5. My main symptom is extreme fatigue… Zzzzz www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

7. Visual disturbance… Missing pieces www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

8. Blurred vision… Snellen chart www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

9. Double vision… Double Trouble www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

10. Colour distortion… Visible spectrum www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

11. Poor peripheral vision… Side vision www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

12. Poor dexterity Sometimes it feels like I’m wearing Mickey Mouse gloves… www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

13. Jelly Babies And sometimes I’m in a wibbly wobbly world of my own… www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

14. Poor hearing Sometimes my hearing seems muffled… www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

15. Not fear of heights And sometimes I suffer from vertigo… www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

16. 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

17. 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 me, Design for All means accessibility for the masses. Mainstreaming accessibility www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

19. Pressure absorbing handle for comfort

20. Fatter handle for ease of grip

21. Non-slip rubber grip for added safetyThis sort of inclusive design means that their products are accessible to a much wider audience. Y-Peeler www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

22. Definition of Enabled by Design… EbD A community of people passionate about those well designed everyday products and services 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 and accessibility by embracing the concept of Design for All. www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

23. “Usability rules the web” – Jakob Nielsen (IT expert, writer and advisor on software and web design) www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

25. Content reduced to essentials

26. Manageable logical structure

27. Intuitive usability

28. Uniform appearance, consistently designed

29. Good design and appealing graphics

30. Quick delivery of informationThe Little Know-It-All Taken from ‘The Little Know It All – Common sense for designers’ – Die Gestalten Verlag ISBN: 978-3-89955-167-9 www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

32. Feedback is indispensible

33. Do this throughout the process from start to end

34. But don’t let that be the end, carry on communicating!

35. Accessibility standards and guidelines alone are not enoughwww.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

38. AbilityNet’s My Computer My Way: http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/myway/

39. BBC’s My Web, My Way: http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/

40. Apple: http://www.apple.com/accessibility/

41. Browser comparisons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_web_browserswww.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

42. Any questions? Thank you for listening! www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

43. You can contact me here: denise@enabledbydesign.org or @enabledby www.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby

45. Visual impairment: http://www.coolfuntoys.com/fun_masks.html

46. Missing pieces: http://www.room333.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27:jigsaw-prayer-idea&catid=25:prayer-ideas&Itemid=39

47. Snellen chart: http://sanjivanieyehospital.com/service/catract

48. Double trouble: http://k43.pbase.com/o4/93/130493/1/55554445.DSC07648.jpg

49. Visible spectrum:http://blogs.cisco.com/gov/comments/spectrum_auctions_the_primer_on_roy_g_biv/

50. Side vision: http://americancombat.org/trainingvision.html

51. Poor dexterity: http://www.laughingplacestore.com/images/products/6369L.jpg

52. Jelly Babies: http://www.picknmixsweetshop.com/bassetts-jelly-babies---215g-bag-588-p.asp

53. Poor hearing: http://www.posters.ws/1016/humor/caution_excessive_sound_levels

54. Not fear of heights: http://posterwire.com/wp-content/images/vertigo.jpg

55. Mainstreaming accessibility: http://www.qedonline.co.uk/catalog/index.php

56. Y-peeler: http://giventodistractingothers.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-have-just-been-trying-out-new-y.html

57. EbD: http://www.writeonnewjersey.com/2009/08/only-the-english-could-have-invented-this-language/

58. The Little Know-It-All: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Know-all-Common-Designers/dp/3899551672

59. Communication: http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/library/tutorials/behavior/communication.html

60. MacBookAir: http://themaclawyer.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/23/macbook_air_2.jpg

61. Any questions? http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2007/oct/02/iwasontourallwww.enabledbydesign.org blog: http://enabledbydesign.org/blog twitter: http://twitter.com/enabledby