What stood out to me most in this reading is how deeply innovation is tied to the desire to solve a problem. I didn’t read this text as “design theory” I read it as a reminder of something I’ve always believed: when something doesn’t work for the human body, we don’t stop; we fix it. Disability becomes a spark that pushes design forward, not a limitation that holds it back. This idea felt almost obvious once I saw it in writing. Synthetic legs exist because someone needed to walk. Hearing aids exist because someone needed to hear. Braces exist because someone needed their teeth to function better. When life presents a barrier, our instinct as humans is to invent ways around it. I’ve always been a problem solver by nature, so this perspective resonated with me on a personal level it aligns with the way I already think.
Another part I connected with was the discussion about discretion vs. expression. I honestly never understood why disability-related devices were expected to be “hidden,” made to look like they don’t exist. Glasses used to be seen this way too, and now they’re almost a fashion statement. I love the idea that assistive technologies shouldn’t be things people are ashamed of. If an object was created to make someone’s life easier, why wouldn’t that be something to show proudly? I hope more devices follow the path that glasses took — becoming normal, stylish, and expressive. There’s something beautiful about the idea of a prosthetic leg being carved out of wood like art, or a hearing aid designed like jewelry. These devices are part of someone’s identity, and identity shouldn’t be minimized.
What the text made me think about is how much of our world is actually built on disability innovation without people noticing. A lot of mainstream design only exists because someone once had a challenge that needed solving. Things we take for granted today ergonomic chairs, Velcro, touchscreens, even certain furniture techniques came from disability-driven constraints. I like how the book almost flips the conversation: instead of treating disability as something society has to “cope” with, it becomes a source of creativity and new possibilities.