This paper presents the revised DesignABILITY framework to improve the development of assistive technology for individuals with severe speech and motor impairments. To concentrate on utilizing user potential rather than just meeting immediate needs, it introduces an "Empowerment Planning" stage. The framework was validated using an innovative system called "MorSpeech," which integrates a multiplatform application with ESP32 hardware, using alternative inputs such as vegetables and water containers. Due to intricate ethical issues, a wide range of etiologies, and the requirement for customized testing procedures based on individual capacities, recruiting for such studies is difficult. As a result, the final prototype was assessed by three individuals with a variety of conditions, including cerebral palsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. According to the results, two participants had a 100% task completion rate. The prototype showed adaptability to severe neurological disabilities, despite the third participant's completion being limited by significant application timing constraints. By prioritizing empathy throughout the design process, this work illustrated the efficacy of the updated framework in developing assistive technologies that empower users with a range of abilities. Additionally, this study emphasizes how iterative design can overcome constraints to enhance overall well-being.
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Aristizábal et al. (2026) studied this question.