Pop-up Empathy Lab

Overview

An Empathy Lab is the chance to start discussions on accessibility kickstarted by a collection of materials that encourage users to consider how users with a range of disabilities and impairments may interact with the world using assistive technologies and what kind of barriers they may face. Empathy Labs are also sometimes called ‘simulation labs’ or 'accessibility labs' because users are simulating disabilities and looking at accessibility tools.

This is can be a sensitive subject as some people believe that the users’ ability to quite literally ‘take off’ their disability does not allow them to properly understand the effect to which a disability truly affects a person. 

At All Able we agree that an afternoon spent in an Empathy Lab will not make users experts on the effects of disability, but it is an important step in raising awareness. Time spent in an Empathy Lab can help users to realise effects of their work that they have not thought about before. Or give users more questions that they can then follow up by asking their disabled user base to better tailor services to their customers.

Attendees engaging with empathy lab kit learning about where Braille seamlessly appears in everyday situations

The key outputs of an All Able Empathy Lab are guided conversations on  the accessibility barriers we all create, and steps we can take to reduce or remove those barriers to offer a more inclusive working or learning environment. We discuss reasonable adjustments, alternative format possibilities and basic actions everyone can take to improve the accessibility of their work.

The event is very much focussed on what YOU can do to contribute to greater accessibility, not focussed on bemoaning the challenges faced by those with additional accessibility barriers. We are building empathy and ways to support, not sympathy for challenging situations.

Our Kit

All Able has a selection of Empathy Lab kit and are happy to provide it as part of training courses we run or as a standalone 'Pop-up' Empathy Lab at events. If you are interested in booking the All Able Empathy Lab to come along to an event we are happy to run the lab, supporting users in trying out our simulation gear and assistive tech.

The All Able Empathy Lab includes a host of physical devices that help to either simulate the effects of certain barriers or tools used to help overcome those barriers. We have a full set of  the controversial simulation glasses, 3D printed tactile map examples, a range of assistive technology and many other tools all supported by training and guidance from the All Able team to ensure users understand where an Empathy Lab experience fits into training and the focus on barrier removal.

You can take a look at our ever growing kit list on our Empathy Lab kit page.

Some of our empathy lab kit laid out as listed above.

Getting a Quote

To get a quote please contact us at info@allable.co.uk and provide us with as much of the suggested information listed below to help us quickly provide you with an accurate response.


Suggested Information

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