Impact of Access Needs Day Four: Hearing and Vestibular

This webinar, the fourth in the series, will help you learn about hearing and vestibular access needs. After this webinar, you will understand more about what makes a more user-friendly experience for those who face a hearing and vestibular access needs in their day to day life.

 

Being Deaf is not necessarily considered an impairment or disability by members of the Deaf community. English is often a second language with New Zealand Sign Language being their first language. In NZ we have about 22,000 people who are NZSL users, half of which state that NZSL is their first language. 

Hearing impairment also affects up to 35% of men over 65 in New Zealand, often work-related. Temporary or situational hearing impairments might be working in a noisy environment or having an ear infection.

Because technology relies heavily on sound to communicate information, the Deaf and hearing impaired can be blocked from accessing information if it is only auditory. The impact of having auditory access needs includes requiring auditory content in written format, having clear and concise language. 

People with vestibular issues can become nauseous from too much animation and movement on a screen. This is caused by a problem in the vestibular or inner ear system. These are typically the people who experienced motion sickness and had to sit up front on long bus or car rides. The impact of having vestibular access needs includes ensuing that animations can be turned off and that the design supports the interface when it is turned off. 

Having an auditory or vestibular access need

The impact of an auditory or vestibular impairment on technology use

Assistive technology for accessing the Internet and apps

Some design and development considerations for hearing and vestibular needs

You can drop into this event at any time.