Temporary Injury
Persona: Hyun-ji
Hyun-ji, 36, Korean American, rents an apartment with a roommate. Broke her dominant wrist and is using voice control to manage her finances during recovery.
About This Condition
A broken wrist, eye surgery recovery, or repetitive strain injury temporarily changes how someone interacts with technology. These users need the same accessible alternatives available to permanent disability users, just discovered in an urgent, unexpected moment.
Digital Challenges
A broken wrist or post-surgery hand means standard mouse and keyboard use may be unavailable for weeks. Most people in this situation have never used voice control or keyboard-only navigation before. When onboarding for assistive tools is unclear, the product becomes inaccessible exactly when it is needed most.
Assistive Technologies
- Voice control
- keyboard navigation
- switch access
Design Considerations
Ensure all tasks are keyboard and voice operable from day one. Use visible focus indicators so keyboard position is always clear. Provide guidance to keyboard shortcuts for users encountering alternative navigation for the first time.
Clinical Examples
Wrist fracture, repetitive strain injury (RSI), post-surgical recovery, concussion