Summary: A physical or “motor” disability is the partial or total loss of function of a body part, usually a limb or limbs, and involves limitations, conditions, or constraints that might make physical interactions more challenging. This could result in muscle weakness, poor stamina, lack of muscle control, or total paralysis.
Physical Disabilities
Learn more about Physical Disabilities on the Alphabet Accessibility Academy
Take the Physical Disabilities course
Some impairments can make fast movements challenging, and some impairments may cause spasms that make point and click movements difficult. Chronic pain, juvenile arthritis, essential tremors, and even the side effects of medical treatments such as chemotherapy can result in barriers to access when interfaces are designed for specific interaction types or precision.
Did you know?
Most users with motor disabilities use more than one assistive technology, and it’s important to provide alternatives to touch-based interfaces.
Source: World Health Organization
Motor stats
Ten percent of the 650 million people with disabilities use wheelchairs. That's approximately 65 million people who use wheelchairs globally.
Source: World Health Organization
Learn more about how people with dexterity impairments use technology
More than 20% of people regularly have difficulty using a phone, which doesn’t include situational impairments that can affect anyone . Find more information in the Android Accessibility: Dexterity deck (go/dexterity-a11y).
More motor resources
Users with motor impairments
A deck by UXR Saige McVea, highlighting research done covering user needs and design considerations
Understanding communication accessibility needs
Project Euphonia's primer about people with accessibility needs related to communication