The document discusses designing user interfaces and products for individuals with special needs, noting challenges involving motor skills, sensory processing, and communication abilities for conditions like autism spectrum disorder. It provides an example customer persona and outlines principles for designing inclusive products, such as leveraging interests to engage users, providing visual instructions, and combining learning with enjoyable activities. The presentation concludes by identifying design levers like interfaces, interactions, animation, and sound that can be adjusted to create accessible experiences.

1. June 6th, 2013
Designing for Special Needs
Jacob Esparza
Wednesday, November 13, 13

2. Hi, I’m Jacob Esparza
CEO & Co-Founder,
Making Friends Inc.
@jacobespa
@MakingFriendsSF
Wednesday, November 13, 13

3. Who Has Special Needs?
Individuals with physical or mental health
conditions requiring services
Autism Spectrum Disorder
1:1 Behavioral Therapy
ADD/ADHD
Medication & Tangibles
Cerebral Palsy
Occupational Therapy
Speech & Language Impairments
Speech Therapy & Adaptive Tools
Wednesday, November 13, 13

4. Autism
1:88 children born in US are diagnosed
Primary characteristic are behavioral deficits
90% have sensory issues
65% of free time is spent on digital devices
3.5 hours/day on digital entertainment
333,000 age 4-10
Wednesday, November 13, 13

5. Special Needs UX Challenges
Motor Skills (coordination)
Interactions
Speech & Language
Visual & auditory
processing
Sensory
Visual & sound
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6. Types Sensory Needs
Visual-Perceptual Skills
Depth perception,
memory, motion
Auditory Processing
Language, tone/pitch,
volume
Tactile (touch)
Human touch, clothing,
food (texture)
Olfactory (taste & smell)
Diet, environment
Vestibular
Balance, movement
Wednesday, November 13, 13

7. Coping Mechanisms
“Stimming”: Repetitive behavior that helps individuals self-regulate
Physical
Tapping/Clapping
Visual
Auditory
Staring
Yelling
Spinning/Rocking
Focus
Chirping
Jumping
Turning Objects
Scripting
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8. Imagine seeing this
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...when everyone else see that

9. Customer Persona
Ethan
Behaviors
make friends”
• Obsessed with Pixar films
• Loves mobile apps
Youtube, Angry Birds, etc.
• 8/10 can’t interpret
conversations with others
• “I don’t know how to
Demographics
• 7 years old, 2nd grader
• Mid-Functioning autism
• High sensory sensitivity
• 20 hours/week therapy
Wednesday, November 13, 13
• 3 hrs/day playing apps:
Needs & Goals
• Wants friends
• Anxious with new people
• Needs to avoid being
socially left behind

10. Product Needs
Skills: Educators + Product Designers
Engagement: Leverage animation, interactions, interests
Education: Enhance, not translate
Scope/Price: Make it an investment, but don’t price-gouge
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11. Market Opportunities
Assessment
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Education
Daily Living
Communication

12. Rules of Thumb
Always Assume Intelligence
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13. Avoid In-App Purchases
That’s nice
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Just looking
Must have

14. The YouTube Test
If you’re navigation is more complicated than YouTube, start over
Navigation
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Navigation
The experience

15. Avoid Rote Learning
Bee is not in app
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Button spacing!
No visuals

16. Give Room For Creativity
But keep options simple
Pick a Character
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Choose Clothes
Customize
Finished Product

17. Combine Interests + Learning
Zombies, check!
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Addition, check!
Awesome stars, check!

18. Provide Visual Help
But avoid creating dependency
No visual instruction
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No help option

19. Sequential Tutorials Are Awesome
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20. Overcome Color Blindness
Shapes & Patterns help
differentiate Colors
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Correct

21. What Levers Do We Have?
User-Interface
Copy, Layout, button size,
colors, patterns, shapes
User Interactions
Gestures, reaction times
Animation
Speed, number of objects moving,
frequency, etc.
Sound
Language, tone/pitch, volume,
frequency
Wednesday, November 13, 13

22. Thank You!
Jacob Esparza CEO & Co-Founder,
Making Friends Inc.
@jacobespa
@MakingFriendsSF
Wednesday, November 13, 13