Coping, hacking, and DIY: Reframing the accessibility of interactions with television for people with motor impairments

Abstract

We conduct an examination of the accessibility challenges experienced by people with upper body motor impairments when interacting with television. We report findings from a study with N=41 people with motor impairments (spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy) and document their challenges and coping strategies for using the TV remote control, but also their television watching experience and expectations of suitable assistive technology for television. Our results show that, despite several accessible remote control products available on the market, the majority of our participants preferred to DIY and hack, and to adopt coping strategies to be able to use conventional TV remote controls. We contrast their experience against that of a control group with N=41 people without impairments. We reflect about the DIY culture and people with motor impairments, and we propose future work directions to increase the accessibility of interactions with television.