Disabled Approaches to LiveCoding, Cripping the Code

The project takes a Universal Design approach to exploring the possibility of creating a software platform to facilitate a Networked Ensemble for Disabled musicians. In accordance with the Nothing About Us Without Us (Charlton, 1998) principle I worked with a group of 15 professional musicians who are also disabled. The group gave interviews as to their perspectives and needs around networked music practices and this data was then analysed to look at how live coding software design could be developed to make it more accessible. We also identified key messages for the wider design of digital musical instrument makers, live coders and performers to improve practice around working with and for disabled musicians.