The persona spectrum: solve for one, extend to many

Microsoft has an excellent resource called the Inclusive Design Toolkit. It’s an educational resource aimed at helping individuals recognize exclusion, learn from diversity, and create universal solutions that benefit everyone.

There is a graphic in their Inclusive 101 Guidebook that I’ve always found helpful when considering the various types of disabilities: permanent, temporary, and situational.

A chart showing the various types of disabilities grouped by permanent, temporary, and situational. Touch includes one arm (permanent), arm injury (temporary), and new parent (situational). Sight includes blind (permanent), cataract (temporary), and distracted driver (situational). Hear includes deaf (permanent), ear infection (temporary), and bartender (situational). Speak includes non-verbal (permanent), laryngitis (temporary), and heavy accent (situational).

We often think about accessible solutions as only benefiting those with permanent disabilities. However, the “solve for one, extend to many” mentality is a great perspective that helps us see how accessibility contributes to a better user experience for everyone.

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