Author:
Emily Dolber, Senior Brand Marketing Director, OBE
At OBE, we believe experiences have the power to connect, move, and transform. But none of that matters if the experiences we create aren’t accessible. That’s why, in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we invited Paralympian, speaker, and disability advocate Tricia Downing to lead a training for our team titled: “The Disability User Experience: Designing for Dignity, Access and Belonging.”
It was more than a training. It was a mindset shift.
Beyond Compliance: Reimagining the User Experience
Tricia is no stranger to reinvention. After a spinal cord injury left her paralyzed from the chest down, she didn’t just rebuild her life—she redefined what was possible, becoming a triathlete, Paralympian, author, and speaker. Her lived experience navigating inaccessible spaces, systems, and assumptions became the foundation for what she calls the Disability User Experience (DUX) Model.
Where traditional accessibility stops at checklists and code compliance, the DUX Model invites us to go deeper—to create experiences where people with disabilities feel respected, empowered, and welcomed.
Meet the DUX Model
At the heart of Tricia’s talk was the DUX Model—three interconnected pillars that help us evaluate and elevate our approach to accessibility:
- Access: The physical and digital infrastructure that makes participation possible.
- Attitude: The language, assumptions, and behavior that determine whether someone feels respected or reduced.
- Anticipation: The proactive design mindset that plans for inclusion from the beginning, not as an afterthought.
Her message was clear:
Access is the baseline, but dignity and equity are the goal.
From Insight to Action: What Inclusion Actually Looks Like
Tricia challenged our team—and by extension, the broader experience design community—to move beyond good intentions. Here are five of her most actionable takeaways:
- Ask, Don't Assume
Inclusion starts with listening. Whether it’s consulting people with disabilities in your planning process or offering a clear point of contact for accommodations, nothing about us without us should be more than a mantra—it should be a method. - Think Beyond the Standard
An ADA-compliant shower with unreachable controls is still inaccessible. A “large” port-a-potty placed on an uncut curb still excludes. True usability requires design empathy—not just minimum requirements. - Mind Your Language
Ditch outdated terms like “handicapped” or “special needs” in favor of “accessible” and “accommodations.” Say “wheelchair user,” not “confined to a wheelchair.” And reconsider common phrases that carry ableist roots (“fell on deaf ears,” “paralyzed by fear”). - Build Accessibility into Your Digital Strategy
Ensure websites, registration pages, and event materials are screen reader-friendly, use high contrast, and avoid PDFs as sole formats. Better yet—test them with people who use assistive tech. - Design for All from the Start
Equity means giving people what they need—not giving everyone the same thing. Whether it’s T-shirt sizing, wayfinding signage, or on-site transportation, inclusive planning should happen before anyone walks through the door.
One of the session’s standout suggestions: Create Accessibility Ambassadors at your events—people trained and visibly identified to support individuals with disabilities.
The Curb Cut Effect: When Design for One Benefits All
Tricia introduced us to the Curb Cut Effect—named for the ramps originally installed for wheelchair users that are now universally appreciated by parents with strollers, travelers with luggage, and delivery drivers. It’s a reminder that inclusive design benefits everyone.
Designing for dignity isn't a niche practice—it's a better way to design. Period.
What This Means for the Industry
For agencies and brands alike, the message is clear: accessibility is not a feature—it’s a foundation. As experience makers, we have a responsibility to meet people where they are, anticipate a range of needs, and create moments that invite everyone in.
At OBE, we’re committed to doing that work—not just because it’s good practice, but because it’s the right thing to do. As part of our core value to Strive for Better, we’re re-evaluating how we design, plan, and show up—at events, in digital spaces, and within our own walls.
“Disability is not a limitation. It’s a different version of the human experience.” — Tricia Downing
Let’s design accordingly.