Curb cut effect
{{short description|Effect of assistive technology}}
File:Curb_cut_for_wheelchair_ramp_(DSC_3616).jpg
The curb cut effect is the phenomenon of disability-friendly features being used and appreciated by a larger group than the people they were designed for. The phenomenon is named for curb cuts{{snd}} miniature ramps comprising parts of sidewalk{{snd}} which were first made for wheelchair access in particular places, but were also welcomed by people pushing strollers, carts or luggage. Curb cuts are now ubiquitous and no longer widely recognized as a disability-accessibility feature.{{cite magazine |last=Blackwell |first=Angela Glover |date=2017 |title=The Curb-Cut Effect |url=https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_curb_cut_effect |magazine=Stanford Social Innovation Review |access-date=August 20, 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Julie |date=July 15, 2015 |title=Smashing barriers to access: Disability activism and curb cuts |url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/smashing-barriers-access-disability-activism-and-curb-cuts |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=National Museum of American History |language=en}} Another example is hearing people using television closed captioning.{{Cite web|url=http://www.accessiblesociety.org/topics/technology/eleccurbcut.htm|title=Fueling the Creation of New Electronic Curbcuts|date=1999|website=The Center for an Accessible Society|access-date=2022-06-17|archive-date=2018-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220090501/http://www.accessiblesociety.org/topics/technology/eleccurbcut.htm|url-status=dead}}
The curb cut effect is a subset of universal design, which is the purposeful design of an environment so that it is accessible to all people regardless of ability or disability.{{Cite web |title=What is Universal Design {{!}} Centre for Excellence in Universal Design |url=https://universaldesign.ie/what-is-universal-design/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=universaldesign.ie}} The curb cut effect differs slightly from universal design as the curb cut phenomenon is often unintentional rather than purposeful, but results in a similar outcome.
Examples
Below are some examples of the curb cut effect.{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2021 |title=The Curb-Cut Effect - NCI |url=https://dceg.cancer.gov/about/diversity-inclusion/inclusivity-minute/2021/curb-cut-effect |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=dceg.cancer.gov |language=en}}
- Closed captioning used by hearing people.
- Game accessibility features in video games used by players with no disabilities.Heydarian, C. H. (2020). [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carmel-Heydarian/publication/341134310_The_Curb-Cut_Effect_and_its_Interplay_with_Video_Games/links/5eb068bd45851592d6b8c372/The-Curb-Cut-Effect-and-its-Interplay-with-Video-Games.pdf The Curb-Cut Effect and its Interplay with Video Games]. Arizona State University.
- Text-to-speech applications used by people without visual impairment or mutism, whether as an alternative to a human voiceover or for artistic purposes (see Vocaloid).
- Audible pedestrian crossing signals
Implications
The curb cut effect has become a prominent phenomenon as society more widely implements accessible and inclusive environments. Implications of the curb cut effect include an increased awareness around universal design within the general population. The fact that many features originally designed to reduce barriers to people with disabilities have been utilized and enjoyed by people outside of the initial target population has encouraged universal design. Curb cut effects increase economic benefits from including many accessibility accommodations in a business setting.{{Cite web |last=Lawson |first=David Dyer |date=2015 |title=Building a Methodological Framework for Establishing a Socio-Economic Business Case for Inclusion: The Curb Cut Effect of Accessibility Accommodations as a Confounding Variable and a Criterion Variable |url=https://openresearch.ocadu.ca/id/eprint/241/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=openresearch.ocadu.ca |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=GREVE |first=FRANK |date=June 11, 2007 |title=Curb ramps liberate Americans with disabilities—and everyone else |url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/article24460762.html |website=MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS}} However, this results in subordinating disability accessibility to general benefits, leading to the rejection of individualized design for disabled populations.Reid, Blake Ellis, "The Curb-Cut Effect and the Perils of Accessibility without Disability" (October 31, 2022). Feminist Cyberlaw, U of Colorado Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 22-24, Available at SSRN: {{SSRN|4262991}} or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4262991. Retrieved 2023-11-28.