Accessible Fabrication

Accessible fabrication refers to the design and use of digital fabrication tools — such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines — in ways that are usable by people with disabilities and that produce accessible outputs. This includes making the fabrication tools themselves accessible (e.g., through tactile interfaces or adapted software), creating custom assistive devices and adaptive aids through fabrication, and enabling disabled makers to participate in maker culture. Accessible fabrication is an emerging area of accessibility research that empowers individuals to create personalized solutions for their specific access needs rather than relying solely on commercially available assistive technology.