Everyday Items That Need Redesign for Better Accessibility

Author: Ian C. Langtree - View Credentials
Published: 27 Mar 2019 - Updated: 13 Nov 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This paper is a light-hearted but practical list of everyday products and features that should be redesigned or invented to make life easier for seniors, people with disabilities and the general public. It starts with two common frustrations: prescription labels printed too small for aging eyes, and USB plugs that are hard to insert the right way up, especially for people with low vision. It goes on to suggest resealable cereal bags, self-cleaning glasses that do not fog, better tasting medicine for children and pets, kink-proof garden hoses, a water shut-off that detects leaks, and simpler social media settings. The list invites readers to send in their own ideas and is a reminder that good design for disabled and older people tends to help everyone.

At a Glance

1 - Most USB plugs carry a small logo that should face up.
2 - A metal seam usually marks the underside of a USB connector.
3 - The writer suggests a window in airplane bathrooms to help people with claustrophobia.
4 - The list also calls for medicine for pets and service animals that they will actually want to take.

Topic Definition

Universal Design: Universal design is the practice of designing products, buildings, environments and services so that they can be used by as many people as possible, regardless of age, ability or situation, without the need for special adaptation. Its principles include equitable and flexible use, simple and intuitive operation, clear information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, and enough size and space for approach and use. Universal design benefits people with disabilities and older adults, and often makes products easier for everyone.

Overview

Given the fact that we now live in the 21st century it is surprising just how many everyday things there are that should be easier, and more accessible, for seniors, people with disabilities, as well as the general population.

Google search results seem to feature endless web site lists of handy gadgets, gizmos, and widgets that are currently available. However, it appears finding a list of things that SHOULD be created is a little harder - so we decided to create such a list. Listed below are a collection of things we feel should be invented or changed in order to be accessible, practical, solve a problem, and provide ease of use.

We would love to hear from you if you can suggest a handy feature, or item, that would make life easier for you. If your suggestion is suitable, (you'd be surprised at some of the suggestions we receive...), and you grant us permission, we will add your idea to this page, and maybe some handy-person, inventor, or even yourself, will bring it to life. Or, someone may actually take notice of things that need changing, such as the fact that the aging population no longer has 20/20 vision to read microscopic instructions on medications etc. I can not for the life of me recall a time when I could read prescription instructions on medication packages, tubes or containers, without the need of 3 pairs of glasses plus a zillion times magnifying glass! The writing seems to be smaller every year.

Another example is USB cords or devices, a common everyday item we use practically every single day. Why on Earth don't the manufacturers of these USB plugs, dongles, flash cards or memory sticks use a raised embossed symbol, or something similar, so we can tell which side is up? Apparently the only way of knowing the correct side to insert the USB into your computer is:

The majority of USB cords have a small USB logo on one of the flat sides of the plug. The side featuring the logo should be the top.
Look for a metal seam that marks the underside of the USB connector - The seam usually faces down on horizontal USB ports and left on vertical ports.

USB plugs are not the most accessible devices for persons with a vision disability are they? Newer USB-C connectors are reversible and fit either way up, which is a welcome step.

Other Things that Need Inventing, Changing or Modifying to Work Better

Resealable breakfast cereal bags.
A hangover cure that really works.
A genuine weight-loss pill that actually works!
Self cleaning eye glasses that also don't fog up.
A permanent eraser for permanent marker pens.
No battery toys and other items and/or wireless electricity.
A search engine that actually returns results that you asked it to!
Why haven't wrinkle free fabrics been invented yet? No more ironing!
Make the maze of trying to navigate and understand all of the settings in Facebook easier.
A window looking outside the plane in the bathrooms to help people who have claustrophobia.
A button on the TV that makes the "beeping" remote beep so you can find where the kids left it.
A translator that can translate pets and animals noises into basic human speech - and vice versa.
A cellphone that can charge, and maintain its charge, without having to be plugged in to any charger.
The need to shave! When will human evolution progress to where men and women do not need to shave?
Weather forecasts - come on now, surely in the 21st century we should be able to get the afternoon forecast right the same morning...
A device built into the main home water pipe that you can activate when you are away to detect a leak and shuts the water mains off completely.
Make medicine for children taste better. Why do pharmaceutical companies still put out horrible tasting medicines - particularly medicine for a child? Surely in this day and age a natural, or even an artificial flavor, could be added to the concoction in order to make it easier for kids - and parents - at medicine time.
The same applies to medication for pets, therapy and service dogs etc. You love your pet or service animal but you are forced to make them endure some vile tasting drug to make them get well again. Not to mention being bitten or scratched to pieces by a kitty cat or dog that doesn't realize you are simply trying to help them! Would it not be possible to flavor their medication so they actually enjoy - or don't mind - taking it thus saving major hassles at dosage time!
How about creating a kink proof garden hose that is... wait for it... actually kink proof! I have bought garden hoses that stated they wouldn't kink, but noooo, as soon as you get the furthest distance from the tap, the hose kinks just near the tap, resulting in walking back to unkink it, as no amount of shaking, twisting, cursing, ever seems to get the kink out of the so-called kink proof brand new garden hose!
Why have most computer manufacturers removed the blinking light when the hard drive was busy? Or placed it in a location that is practically inaccessible. Sometimes a computer will just show a blue, or blackened, screen. The blinking hard drive light would at least let us know if the computer was still busy doing its thing, and no hard drive light at all for several seconds usually indicated the computer had "frozen" and needed rebooting. Why remove such a handy source of information?

Frequently Asked Questions

Are pharmacies required to provide large print medicine labels?

Rules vary, but many U.S. pharmacies will print larger labels or provide talking labels on request, and some states require accessible labels for people who are blind or have low vision.

Is USB-C reversible?

Yes. USB-C connectors are symmetrical and can be inserted either way up, which makes them easier for people with low vision or limited dexterity.

What is the difference between universal design and accessible design?

Accessible design usually meets the needs of people with disabilities, often to meet standards, while universal design aims to work well for the widest range of people from the start.

Are there easy-open packaging options for people with arthritis?

Yes. Some medicines can be dispensed in easy-open caps on request, and many companies now offer frustration-free packaging that is easier to open.

What smart home devices help seniors and people with disabilities?

Useful devices include voice assistants, smart lights and thermostats, video doorbells, water leak detectors and smart plugs that can be controlled by voice or phone.

How can I suggest a product improvement to a company?

Contact the company customer service or accessibility team, explain the problem clearly and how a change would help, and share feedback through reviews and disability organizations.

Do anti-fog glasses really work?

Anti-fog coatings and wipes can reduce fogging for a time, but none prevent it completely, so they may need to be reapplied.

What is a water leak detector?

A water leak detector senses water where it should not be and sounds an alarm or sends a phone alert. Some models connect to a valve that shuts off the main water supply.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Small design choices can decide whether a product is usable or not, and the people most affected are often older adults and people with vision, dexterity or memory impairments. Larger print on medicine labels, connectors that fit either way up and controls that are easy to find are not luxuries but basic accessibility features. Some of the ideas on this list have since arrived, such as reversible USB-C plugs and smart water leak detectors, which shows that public demand can move manufacturers. Inclusive design that starts with disabled users usually ends up making life easier for everyone.

Author Credentials: Ian C. Langtree is a writer, editor, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, which he established in 2004 as one of the longest-running independent resources for disability news and information. Over more than two decades, he has written and edited thousands of articles on disability rights, health, accessibility, and assistive technology. Drawing on a global perspective shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed advocate of the Social Model of Disability, the framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that focuses on removing societal barriers rather than on individual impairments. His writing is grounded in that framework and in a lasting commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.