Design Opportunities to Foster Independent Living: Insights from Working Age Persons with Disabilities from Thailand

Abstract This paper explores design opportunities that could enhance the independent living experience of working-age individuals with disabilities in Thailand. It emphasizes the role of empathy in the design process, as it was the initial step in the design-thinking method. The empathy process was conducted under the phenomenological research in psychology method. The process involving in-depth interviews of working-age participants with mobility, visual, hearing, and cognitive impairments which are the majority of people with disabilities in Thailand. The sample included 10 participants with mobility impairments, 10 with visual impairments, 5 with hearing impairments, and 7 with intellectual impairments. They participated through self-selection (volunteer) sampling method. The findings of the study revealed key areas for improvement, including accessibility, technology, and social support. Participants expressed a desire for inclusive design solutions that prioritize ease of use, enrichment, and comfort. The paper highlights the importance of understanding, empathizing, and considering the needs and experiences of individuals with disabilities when designing products, services, and places. By doing so, designers across disciplines can develop more meaningful solutions that address their unique needs and challenges. The results of this research contribute to the ongoing conversation on designing for inclusivity and highlight the potential for design to positively impact the lives of individuals with disabilities. The limitations of this research were the use of volunteer sampling method may introduce selection bias, and the impact of Covid-19 outbreak could interrupt the interview result. Further studies might explore other demographics and delve deeper into areas like technology and social support to understand nuanced needs.