Design can enhance quality of life or reduce independence. Traditionally, healthcare equipment, assistive aids and even consumer items designed for disability have suffered from poor design. Products and services need to recognise the diverse tastes, aspirations and needs of disabled people.

Some key facts about care:

• There are 40 million disabled people in the EU and 54 million in the USA
• In the UK approximately 8.7 million disabled people are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act - around 15 per cent of the population
• In the UK, 17% were born with a disability. Of the rest over 70% became disabled during their working lives
• Fewer than 5 per cent of disabled people use wheelchairs
• One in every four customers either has a disability or a close relative or friend who is disabled
• The estimated purchasing power of people with disabilities in the UK is £40-50 billion
• Over 5.2 million disabled people are of working age which represents 18 per cent of the working population in the UK
• Visual defects are one of the most common causes of disability
• Worldwide there are over 42 million blind people. In the UK there are over 2 million adults with 'seeing difficulties'
• Only 18 per cent of blind people are totally blind. The majority of these can distinguish between light and dark
• Five to six million people in the UK would benefit from using an appropriate hearing aid but fewer than two million people have them
• More than 4 million disabled people use equipment services. They are the gateway to their independence and significantly affect their quality of life and that of their 1.7 million informal carers
   

An important strand of the Helen Hamlyn Research Associates Programme is dedicated to care and health. A selection of design projects is shown below.

Aiding rehabilitation for disabled people

In 2000, Judith Anderson of Industrial Design Engineering developed a wheelchair attachment enabling wheelchair users to stand, in partnership with The Laura Ashley Foundation

Walking the way to health

In 2001, Ellie Ridsdale of Communication Art & Design looked at combating heart disease, in partnership with the British Heart Foundation

Better packaging design for all

In 2002, Katherine Gough of Industrial Design Engineering looked at the needs of older and less able users, in partnership with Unilever
 

Links to relevant external web sites can be found on our links pages
 

(Sources: ONS, NCSR, RADAR, EFD, RNIB, Audit Commission, The Guardian)