Problem Card #6:
Achieving an Inclusive Society
Disabilities impact many Australians in lots of different ways– but in assisting these individuals we need to be careful to not underestimate their abilities.
Understanding what an individual needs is the focus of achieving an inclusive society with disability technologies.
Is your school inclusive?
How does it cater to students with disabilities?
Assessing school safety for all students should be a focus.
This Problem Card introduces the industry issue so that students can devise their own STEM-related solutions.
Explore the Problem Card below, and find teaching resources, including Curriculum Activities, customisable Unit Plans and Marking Rubrics at the bottom of the page.
Disability and Sport
Wheelchairs and prosthetics (artificial limbs) assist disabled people to be mobile, but what if simply being able to move isn’t enough?
In the endeavour to go higher, faster and longer, athletes with a disability have found these standard devices can inhibit their sporting performance.
How can innovation assist disabled athletes to be all they can be?
Traditional wheelchairs have been modified over time to meet the requirements of the need for rapid acceleration and sudden changes of direction in sports. Understanding the needs of wheelchair athletes assists in the design of disability technology.
BEN EGLISTON – UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Video games for people with disabilities
Anyone can play video games, right? It’s true that more people are now able to play games without much gaming knowledge– thanks to Nintendo Switch or Sony’s Playstation. However, all video games are technologies of the body. We scan movements on the screen with our eyes, grip controllers with our hands, rapidly tap buttons with our fingers, and so on.
Some things need to change with the design of games and gaming controllers to make them more accessible for people living with disability.
The video game industry needs to improve in this area. Can you think of how to make your favourite game accessible to someone who doesn’t have the ability to grip a controller?
Innovate
Read about some real-world issues that will provide invaluable industry context.
When you’re done reading, move on to the CREATE section for an introduction to Problems that students can solve.
You can also download a printable, PDF version of the problem card.
Community Play Space
The Play Space is accessible and offers the opportunity for families to enjoy social interaction and activities for children of all abilities.
It is an attractive natural space for everyone to use and is unique in design, considering different ability levels and providing an activity space for a wide age range.
In 2001, it was identified that there was a need for a regional play space that could cater to children with disabilities, providing a model of inclusive design for the region.
Create
This section will introduce an industry problem related to the accessibility that students can choose to address with STEM-related solutions.
Innovative Inclusion:
How can we innovate to encourage all abilities?
Imagine if schools could anticipate what students with disabilities needed so the school could be prepared for all students.
Or if the needs of a disabled user were thought about during the design of equipment.
Designing a tailor-made wheelchair for athletes by understanding the needs of their sport could literally change the game!
Additional Resources
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Problem Card
Download a printable, PDF version of this Problem Card.
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Inclusivity Curriculum Activity
Explore relevant Curriculum Activities
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Student Worksheet
Download an editable student activity worksheet.
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Rubric
Download an editable marking rubric
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Unit Plan
Download an editable suggested Unit Plan