Charity targets design to enable independent living

AN Edinburgh charity has launched a new campaign to improve the quality of life for disabled people by including them in the design of services and everyday household products.

The Blackwood Foundation has launched the bespoken campaign to recognise disabled people as experts on “independent living”.

Through the social media site bespoken – www.bespoken.me – the Blackwood Foundation will connect users with developers to help disabled people improve the design of everything from kitchens and computers to wheelchairs and can openers.

The campaign was set up after research carried out by the charity found that the poor design of homes and household products often left disabled people feeling frustrated and excluded.