Donna Louise - Research

Research of apps with a focus on those with disability friendly functionality.


1. Voice Dream Reader

"Voice Dream Reader is the app that allows you to read with your ears. The voice-based mobile app is an innovation for those with physical and learning challenges, as well as those without."

If the app included a similar type of voice reader that is built in then people with sight impairments and learning difficulties could also get the emergency alerts. 

(https://www.uksmobility.co.uk/blog/2015/10/45-powerful-mobile-apps-for-those-with-disabilities/)

2. Avaz

"This app enables children with autism and other disorders to “speak” using pictures - in a variety of situations." 

This being included in the app would make it easier for non verbal people such as children with autism spectrum disorders, Downs syndrome, Angelman's Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and other speech disabilities to communicate with others around them that there is an emergency. Non verbal autistic people also tend to respond better to a visual indicator and not a verbal one. 

(https://www.goodnet.org/articles/7-best-apps-for-people-disabilities-list)

(https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/2018-08/Visual%20Supports%20Tool%20Kit.pdf)

3. SIGNL4

"Never miss a critical Alert: SIGNL4 notifies your team members on duty persistently by push, text and voice call until an alert is acknowledged and confirmed by a single or multiple persons. If there is no response within a certain time (“target response time”), team managers will be notified automatically"

Using the same technology as this app, the Siren app would keep sending the emergency alerts until the alert got a response, ensuring the person receiving the alert could get to safety.

(https://www.signl4.com/mobile-alert-notification-app/)