At work, we use a Square cash register with one screen for the employee and one for the customer. Although this cash register design is sleek and futuristic, even for abled individuals, it can be difficult to use with its lack of indicators so I can not imagine what this experience would be like for someone who is deaf. For example, there are no real prominent visual indicators for the customer to insert or slide their card. If I were to fix this problem, I would add physical indicators, such as a protruding outline around the card readers. Not only would this help the deaf but it could also help the blind; especially if brail were to be included alongside it, to inform them what it is and what to do. This way, they could more easily sense how to complete the task.
If someone was physically disabled, let’s say paralyzed or amputated, where they can not physically interact with the screen, I can always assist them with the payment process as I always do. If they are in a wheelchair, using a walker/cane, or crutches. It would be useful if their screen could be extended to their reach so they could comfortably pay for themselves without them being uncomfortable.
After reading the article and videos, one of the biggest takeaways I got was that when designing for people who are disabled or disabled people, if you want to be an ally, you need to design with accessibility in mind, not as an afterthought modification. Some designers might believe that by doing this it can make their designs less appealing but it is quite contrary. Many of todays designs were created for a group of people outside of the bell peak but made it more accessible for even the larger population to use that they also adopted it.
