Recommendations on Standards for the Design of Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Adults with Disabilities, Advisory Committee Final Report

8.5 Updating Standards in the Future

Finally, two forces underscore the need for future vigilance concerning accessibility standards: (1) potential changes in the needs of the population of persons with disabilities; and (2) the emergence of new technologies with different accessibility considerations than existing technologies.

First, attributes of the population of individuals with disabilities might change in the future, perhaps altering in some way their accessibility needs. As noted above, the general population is increasingly overweight and obese; if population heights and weights change significantly, this might alter dimensions required for equipment accessibility. Wheelchair technologies might also change, lowering or raising seat heights or altering width or depth dimensions. Other types of mobility modalities might emerge (such as new limb prostheses, nerve stimulation, or exoskeleton technologies) that might alter how people approach accessing medical equipment. Policies and procedures are therefore required to monitor these anthropometric and technological trends and consider their implications for the accessibility of medical equipment to individuals with disabilities.

Second, basic science research will result in significant advances in both diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in coming years. As this foundational research proceeds into the development and production of new medical technologies – for both diagnoses and treatments – it will be essential to ensure that these advances extend equitably to persons with disabilities. It is difficult to imagine today the technological specifications of medical scientific advances that will emerge over coming decades. Nonetheless, having policies and procedures in place to address the accessibility of new technologies will be critical so that individuals with disabilities can benefit equally from these advances as will other patients. As new technologies emerge, manufacturers will likely turn – as they have done in the past – to scientists, engineers, and various health care professionals for recommendations to ensure the effectiveness and safety of their products. Equipment designers should seek advice from individuals with disabilities about accommodation features to ensure that new technologies are maximally accessible to all patients.