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A Community Helping To Shape The Future Of Disability Tech
At Remarkable, our mission is to empower Disability Tech innovators with the training, capital, and networks they need to build a more inclusive, accessible, and equitable world. We believe the best ideas come from real, lived experiences, which is why we launched the Remarkable User Feedback Community in 2024!
This initiative connects Disability Tech innovators directly with people who have lived experience, helping them to gather valuable feedback to design accessible and inclusive products and services that truly meet user needs.
Liza Maclean, our Head of Technology Implementation who is the driving force behind the User Feedback Community, shares her vision for this new community in the Q&A below.
Learn how this community is shaping the future of Disability Tech, and share it with others who might want to get involved!
Q&A with Liza Maclean
Q. Can you please introduction yourself by sharing a bit about your history with Remarkable, your current role and why you’re passionate about the User Feedback Community?
A. I’ve been part of the Remarkable journey since its very beginning in 2015, wearing many hats over the years—as a mentor, coach, partner, and proud cheerleader for this incredible community. My background is in occupational therapy, with over 25 years’ experience working in health, disability, and assistive technology. I’ve always been passionate about connecting technology developers with people with lived experience of disability to ensure the solutions they create are truly meaningful.
In my current role as Head of Tech Implementation at Remarkable, I’m focused on ensuring people with disability are intentionally involved during the design phase of startups so that these innovations are brought to market in the most impactful way possible. Our new User Feedback Community is a huge step toward this goal—it’s an exciting way to create a direct line between lived experience and the tech that can transform lives. For me, it’s not just work; it’s about making sure technology is impactful, inclusive and accessible.
Q. What is the Remarkable User Feedback Community?
A. It’s a community of diverse people with lived experience of disability (including supporters such as carers and family members) who share their feedback with Disability Tech innovators to improve their products and services. By providing insights about what works, what doesn’t, and what’s needed, this community helps Disability Tech innovators design solutions that meet real-world needs.
Q. Why is the Remarkable User Feedback Community important? What impact is it hoping to make?
The User Feedback Community aims to bridge the gap between Disability Tech innovators and the people who will ultimately use their technology. Traditionally, user feedback often comes too late in the design process—after long development and testing cycles, when making significant design changes is harder and slower.
The hope is as this community grows it will allow more innovators to connect with people with lived experience much earlier, providing real-time feedback that can be implemented during the design phase. By designing with people with disability rather than for them, we’re fostering innovation that is more inclusive, effective, and impactful. It’s about fast-tracking the journey to better solutions and ensuring they meet the real needs of the people they’re created for.
We received a quote from Sophie Marmont, Lived Experience Engagement Administrator, Cerebral Palsy Alliance and User Feedback Community Member that I think speaks to this concept really powerfully:
“I think it is so important to engage people with lived experience. We can articulate what we need and be part of the process of designing the solution. It’s really important for innovators to involve people at all stages of the process, to understand people’s different needs, and be really open to change. It’s good when you are asked what has worked, what hasn’t, and what you’ve tried in the past. And when designers listen to and understand what the problem is first, and for people with lived experience to be part of that whole cycle to come up with the right solution.”
Community members’ feedback will directly shape the future of Disability Tech. I believe that together, we can create solutions that improve inclusion and accessibility for everyone.
Q. Who can join the Remarkable User Feedback Community?
A: People who are as passionate and enthusiastic about the power of technology to create a more accessible, equitable and inclusive world as we are! Our community is already growing, and we’d love help reaching new members to make it even stronger. If you’re eligible, or know someone who is, we’re looking for:
- People with any type of disability.
- Supporters of people with disabilities, such as carers or family members.
- Parents or guardians of children with disabilities (under 18).
Community members need to be over 18 and based in Australia to join right now, but we’re planning to expand globally in the future!
Specific skills in user testing are not required to participate, members just need to share their thoughts and experiences about products and services including things such as likes, dislikes, preferences and priorities; the usability of products and areas for improvement; and insights into how the product or service could benefit people with disability.
Q. How can joining the community make an impact?
A: Community members’ feedback will directly shape the future of Disability Tech. Innovators in our network rely on insights to understand the needs of people with disability, refine their ideas and make their products more inclusive. Together, we can create solutions that improve inclusion and empower the disability community.
But that’s not all—joining the community comes with some other great benefits:
- Members receive recognition and rewards for their contributions.
- Early access to innovative technology before it’s publicly available.
- Valuable insights and experience in the Disability Tech sector.
Q. Who are the Disability Tech innovators seeking feedback?
A: Remarkable works with startups from around the globe developing a wide range of Disability Tech.
Our initial focus for user feedback opportunities will be for innovators and startups participating in our Launcher and Accelerator programs which run once per year.In the future, we are keen to expand the opportunity for Remarkable alumni startups who have completed previous programs. More information about our startups and the types of technology they are developing can be found on our website startup landing pages.
Remarkable also has close relationships with technology researchers and student innovators through Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s affiliation with the University of Sydney who also need to connect with people with lived experience for feedback.
Q. How can people interested find out more and sign up?
A: Visit our User Feedback Community page to find out more about how the Community works and all the benefits of becoming a member, including rewards and recognition for Community Members.
The User Feedback Community Registration Form is now open and we'd love to invite those who are interested to register and join us in shaping the future of disability technology. Together, we can create a world that is more inclusive for everyone.
For assistance in completing the Registration Form or for more information you can email us at userfeedback@remarkable.org
