Empathy-Centric Design in Assistive Technologies for Cerebral Palsy and Disabilities: Balancing Aesthetics and Functionality

Design greatly simplifies tasks, enhances daily life, and improves products and services. However, in the rehabilitation of disabled children, design often falls short. This paper seeks to highlight the intricate interplay between design and assistive technologies by shedding light on the challenges faced by disabled users with these products, especially cerebral palsy children. The paper explores literature indicating how these products can negatively affect user self-esteem, rehabilitation, and product adoption. It underscores the significance of integrating semantics and employing empathetic methods to strike a proper balance between aesthetics and functionality in the design development of assistive products. This approach aims to enhance children's perception and societal acceptance of these products, transforming them from standard hospital equipment to more empathy-centric solutions.