A perspective on engaging the disability community in exoskeleton design, implementation, and policymaking

Cutting-edge exoskeleton technologies are being developed to rehabilitate older adult patients in medical settings and prevent injury of able-bodied individuals in industrial settings. However, both medical and occupational exoskeletons offer yet underrecognized opportunities to support individuals across the full range of disabled experiences. This perspective piece offers guidance towards design, implementation, and policy for exoskeletons to be used by a diverse set of disabled individuals. To improve the usefulness, usability, and safety of exoskeletons for disabled users, ergonomists can employ inclusive design, universal design, user-centered design, and participatory design principles. In applying these principles, ergonomists must partner with disabled users as they are experts of their own different and overlapping physical, cognitive, sensory, and mental-health-related disabilities. This partnership should be long-standing and extend throughout all stages of the design process via participatory design sessions and community engagement studios.