“I can’t swing a cat in here”: Towards Smart, Accessible Homes for People with Paraplegia

Designing smart and accessible homes for persons with paraplegia (PwP) requires a holistic approach that goes beyond technological innovations. In this paper, we aim to examine how future smart, AI-enabled tools can co-exist with physical and structural constraints of homes that PwP currently live in. Using an in-situ, semi-structured interview process, aided by a set of concept arts that show futuristic household technologies, we engaged with 14 PwP and four carers to understand how accessibility can be supported. Our findings show that 1) built environments, 2) self-care tools, and 3) social elements play an important role in supporting accessible living experiences. Based on the findings, we argue that a more holistic view on accessibility is required, as it is impossible to think about domestic accessible technologies without considering the physical and structural aspects of housing. We present implications to provide home accessibility through technological support and develop the notion of situated accessibility in the context of smart, accessible housing.