8 Everyday Items First Created for People With Disabilities

This is known as the "Curb-Cut Effect." The research organization PolicyLink describes it as "a powerful example of how laws and programs intended to support vulnerable groups, like the disabled or people of color, often end up benefiting everyone."

We live in a world largely built for those who can see, hear, walk, and speak easily. But there are 1 billion people globally with some form of disability, and one-fifth of them (110 to 190 million) have significant impairments, according to the World Bank. Many of these people require specialized modifications to thrive. Interestingly, many innovations first developed for people with disabilities are eventually enjoyed and utilized by individuals of all abilities.

If you're curious about what a curb cut is, you'll soon find out as it's part of our upcoming list of eight. Some of these you come across nearly every day.

1. Typewriters/Keyboards

Almost everyone owns a keyboard today, but that wasn't always the case. The typewriter was created by an Italian inventor named Pellegrino Turri, who, noticing that his blind friend, Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzano, struggled to write letters by hand, developed the first typewriter in 1608. It featured keys and metal arms with raised characters. Turri also invented carbon paper to provide ink for the machine. The typewriter eventually evolved into the modern computer keyboard.

2. Electric Toothbrushes

While dental care is essential for everyone, it was particularly challenging for people with limited motor skills in the past. In 1954, the Broxodent electric toothbrush was invented to assist people with limited strength, mobility, and control in brushing more effectively. It quickly became clear that electric toothbrushes outperform manual ones, and today, most dentists recommend them. A 2019 study even found that people using electric toothbrushes tend to keep their teeth longer, experience less tooth decay, and have healthier gums.

3. OXO Good Grips and Similar Kitchen Tools

Today, kitchen gadgets, from peelers to can openers, often feature larger, softer handles that make them more comfortable to hold than their older counterparts. Back in 1990, this wasn't the case. Sam Farber, an inventor, noticed his wife with arthritis struggling to use a potato peeler. This inspired him to create the OXO brand and its Good Grips line. Each tool featured a wide, oval-shaped handle that was easy to grasp, even for those with limited hand strength. The soft rubber, originally designed for automotive products, made the tools comfortable to hold. The popularity of Good Grips prompted other brands to adopt similar designs.

4. Speech-to-text and Voice Recognition Apps

If you've ever asked Alexa a question or followed directions from your GPS, you've experienced speech-to-text or voice recognition technology. This tech is built into most smartphones and is also used in military planes, car navigation systems, and home automation devices. One major purpose behind its invention was to help those unable to physically write down their thoughts. In the 1990s, software was created that allowed people to dictate written documents with their voices, which could then be saved and opened. Later, specific versions were developed for professionals such as medical transcriptionists and courtroom staff.

5. Fidget Spinners

This toy took the world by storm in 2017, becoming a must-have for every kid. A fidget spinner consists of three paddle-shaped blades arranged around a central circle with bearings, and you spin it to help calm down or focus better. The invention of the fidget spinner can be credited to engineer Catherine Hettinger, who originally designed it in 1993 as a way to entertain her 7-year-old daughter. However, she unfortunately let the patent lapse due to financial constraints, missing out on the massive craze that followed.

In the early 2000s, manufacturers started advertising these toys as a tool to calm people with autism, ADHD, and anxiety disorders. Despite studies failing to show clear evidence of their effectiveness for these conditions, by 2017, people of all walks of life—whether stressed business executives or bored school kids—were enjoying spinning the 'fidgets' just for fun. Ironically, some school districts even banned fidget spinners for being distracting.

6. Curb Cuts

It's likely clear that curb cuts—those gradual slopes or 'graded ramps' from the sidewalk to the street—were initially created for wheelchair users. However, they've proven to be just as helpful for parents with strollers, travelers dragging wheeled luggage, and workers pushing heavy loads on dollies. Curb cuts first appeared in 1945, but their use became widespread in the United States after the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act required that all sidewalks be equipped with them.

7. Bendy Straws

While the straight paper straw was an impressive invention when it was first created in 1888, it was in the 1930s that Joseph Friedman made an improvement by designing a straw that bent in the middle. He came up with this idea when he noticed his small daughter couldn't enjoy her milkshake at a soda fountain using a straight straw. He placed a screw inside the straw and wrapped dental floss around it to create a corrugated shape. Though originally not designed for people with disabilities, hospitals were quick to adopt bendy straws as they were helpful for bed-bound patients. Today, bendy straws are loved by everyone.

8. Audiobooks

While Braille remains an essential tool for those with visual impairments, audiobooks have offered a more convenient way for them to enjoy literature. The concept of audiobooks took shape in 1932, thanks to the American Foundation of the Blind, who initially recorded books onto vinyl records. Over time, technological advancements expanded the format’s potential, from a mere 15 minutes of speech per side of vinyl records in the 1930s to two-hour recordings with Amazon’s Audible by 2007, and now, to the hundreds of hours of content available on today’s smartphones. Audiobooks have become popular not only among those with visual impairments but with people from all walks of life, offering a convenient way to consume books during commutes or to reduce screen time. In 2020, the audiobook industry reached $1.3 billion in sales, a 12 percent increase from the previous year.