Emergency Accessibility
Introduction
Emergencies can be challenging for older adults and people with cognitive disabilities. In these situations, they need help explaining what they need or to use traditional emergency systems like 911. This can cause delays in getting help and worsen the situation. This is an essential issue because quick and clear emergency communication can save lives.
To help solve this problem, we’ve created Nimbus, an emergency alert app designed to be easy for everyone. While Nimbus was initially developed as a voice-activated emergency alert system for women’s safety, we are now adding features to make it more accessible for older adults and people with disabilities.
Nimbus uses voice commands to help users send emergency alerts quickly and discreetly to their contacts and emergency services. However, some users, especially older adults or those with disabilities, may struggle to use voice commands during stressful moments. To ensure the app works for everyone, we’re adding options like large buttons that can be pressed to trigger alerts and templates that help users send additional information, such as medical conditions and allergies. These templates help responders understand the situation faster to provide the best care. By focusing on ease of use, clear communication, and customization, Nimbus aims to make emergencies easier for all users, no matter their abilities.
Positive Disability Principles
Intersectionality
Our app is designed with the understanding that people experience disabilities and other challenges in different ways. Factors such as age, cognitive ability, socioeconomic status, and access to technology all affect how people use emergency services. For example, older adults with mental disabilities may face even more difficulties in emergencies. People from lower-income backgrounds may not have access to smartphones or other tools to help in an emergency.
Nimbus considers these factors by offering features like customizable templates, voice commands, and large buttons. The app is also available in multiple languages and is designed to be simple enough for users with different levels of digital experience. By considering these intersectional needs, Nimbus helps ensure everyone has an equal chance of getting the help they need in an emergency.
Collective Access
Everyone experiences different versions of accessibility, so solutions should cater to this diversity. Nimbus offers various ways to interact with the app: voice commands for those who prefer speaking, large buttons for people with visual or motor impairments, and customizable templates for users with cognitive challenges.
The app also allows users to store important personal information, like medical conditions and emergency contacts, so they don’t have to explain everything in a stressful moment. By providing different options, Nimbus creates a more inclusive system that works for many users.
Wholeness
Wholeness is about recognizing and respecting each user as an individual. Often, older adults and people with cognitive disabilities are seen only for their challenges, especially in emergencies. Nimbus changes this perspective by honoring each person’s unique needs. The app lets users customize their profiles with necessary information like medical history and communication preferences.
This ensures that they are understood and supported on their terms. The app also helps users feel more in control during stressful situations, reducing anxiety and improving emergency outcomes. By focusing on wholeness, Nimbus respects each user’s dignity and empowers them to manage emergencies confidently.
Methodology and Results
Research and Requirements Gathering
We started by researching the challenges faced by older adults and people with cognitive disabilities in emergencies. We looked at studies and surveys to understand their needs. We also talked to caregivers and medical professionals to learn the most helpful features.
Design Prototyping
Using what we learned from our research, we created a prototype of the app. We focused on making the app easy to navigate with simple buttons and clear fonts. We also included features like customizable templates that allow users to quickly communicate their medical needs, such as if they have allergies or chronic conditions.
Implementation
We built the app using tools that support accessibility, including features like voice commands, text-to-speech, and adjustable text sizes. We also made sure the app followed accessibility standards to ensure that users could navigate it easily, even with a keyboard or screen reader.
Disability Justice Perspective
Intersectionality
The principle of intersectionality means that people have multiple identities and face different types of challenges simultaneously. For Nimbus, this means recognizing that other factors like race, gender, age, finances, and access to technology influence disabilities.
For instance, older adults with cognitive disabilities might not just need accessibility features; they could also struggle with loneliness, money issues, or cultural barriers that make it hard to reach emergency services. Nimbus addresses these challenges by offering customizable options, more prominent buttons for easier use, and simple templates for pre-recorded messages.
Collective Access
Disability justice highlights that making places accessible should involve everyone. Solutions should help individuals and strengthen the community. We designed Nimbus to be an app that supports all users. For example, Nimbus lets users keep emergency contact information and medical details, which they can share with family, caregivers, or emergency responders.
This builds a support network around each person, empowering them and their caregivers. The app offers different communication methods, including voice commands, large buttons, and customizable templates.
Wholeness
Wholeness means recognizing and respecting every person’s full humanity, not just focusing on their disabilities. Disabled individuals, especially older adults, are often viewed mainly through their challenges. Disability justice encourages us to also look at their strengths, potential, and dignity.
Nimbus empowers users by allowing them to manage their medical information, giving them control over their health. Users can easily activate emergency alerts through voice commands, a button press, or a pre-filled message.
Learnings and Future Work
We learned that accessibility is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Designing for older adults and people with cognitive disabilities requires continuous feedback and refinement. We plan to improve Nimbus by adding real-time location tracking and video calls with emergency responders. We also aim to improve the app’s voice recognition in noisy environments.