Literature Reviews

Reviewed research papers, articles, and publications relevant to digital accessibility.

• Using a Computer Intervention to Support Phonological Awareness Development of Nonspeaking Adults

  Ha Trinh (2011) — The Proceedings of the 13th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2011)

  This short paper presents a pilot study investigating whether a computer-based intervention delivered on an iPad can help adults with severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI) develop phonological awareness — the ability to identify and manipulat…

  • phonological awareness
  • literacy
  • severe speech and physical impairments
  • computer-based intervention
  • iPad
  • cerebral palsy
  • AAC
  • mainstream technology

• Liberi and the Racer Bike: Exergaming Technology for Children with Cerebral Palsy

  Zi Ye, Hamilton A. Hernandez, T.C. Nicholas Graham, Darcy Fehlings, Lauren Switzer, Md Ameer Hamza, Irina Schumann (2012) — Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This demonstration paper presents Liberi, a multiplayer exercise video game, and a custom cycling-based exergaming station designed to enable children with cerebral palsy (CP) to engage in vigorous physical exercise while playing with peers. Children…

  • cerebral palsy
  • exergame
  • children
  • physical activity
  • participatory design
  • motor impairment
  • rehabilitation
  • game accessibility

• iSCAN: A Phoneme-based Predictive Communication Aid for Nonspeaking Individuals

  Ha Trinh, Annalu Waller, Keith Vertanen, Per Ola Kristensson, Vicki L. Hanson (2012) — Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This paper presents iSCAN (Interactive Sound-based Communication Aid for Non-speakers), a phoneme-based predictive communication system designed for people with severe speech impairments (SSI) who lack conventional literacy skills. The core problem i…

  • augmentative and alternative communication
  • phoneme-based communication
  • predictive text
  • word prediction
  • severe speech impairment
  • cerebral palsy
  • assistive technology
  • phonological awareness
  • motor impairment

• Wii Remote as a Web Navigation Device for People with Cerebral Palsy

  Nithin Santhanam (2012) — Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This short paper evaluates the Nintendo Wii remote as an alternative web navigation device for people with cerebral palsy, compared to a standard wireless mouse. Despite the abundance of accessibility tools, customizable and inexpensive options for p…

  • cerebral palsy
  • alternative input device
  • motor impairment
  • web accessibility
  • Wii remote
  • game controller
  • customization
  • wheelchair users
  • assistive technology

• Physical Accessibility of Touchscreen Smartphones

  Shari Trewin, Cal Swart, Donna Pettick (2013) — Proceedings of the 15th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper examines touchscreen smartphone adoption and usability for people with dexterity impairments through interviews and hands-on observations with 16 participants (mean age 40) at a New York centre serving approximately 3,500 people with physi…

  • motor impairment
  • dexterity impairment
  • touchscreen
  • mobile accessibility
  • smartphone
  • cerebral palsy
  • assistive technology
  • touch interaction

• Conversational Agency in Augmentative and Alternative Communication

  Stephanie Valencia, Amy Pavel, Jared Santa Maria, Seunga (Gloria) Yu, Jeffrey P. Bigham, Henny Admoni (2020) — CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

  This paper introduces conversational agency as a new framework for studying how augmented communicators (ACs) — people who use AAC devices to speak — participate in and influence conversations. While prior AAC research has focused primarily on improv…

  • AAC
  • augmentative and alternative communication
  • cerebral palsy
  • conversational agency
  • communication partners
  • assistive technology
  • speech generating devices
  • turn-taking
  • accessibility

• Co-designing Socially Assistive Sidekicks for Motion-based AAC

  Stephanie Valencia, Michal Luria, Amy Pavel, Jeffrey P. Bigham, Henny Admoni (2021) — Proceedings of the 2021 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI '21)

  This paper explores how socially assistive robots, framed as "sidekicks," could provide AAC users with a nonverbal channel of communication to support their conversational goals. While AAC devices enable speech-based communication through synthesized…

  • AAC
  • nonverbal communication
  • socially assistive robots
  • co-design
  • human-robot interaction
  • cerebral palsy
  • motor disability
  • participatory design

• Nonverbal Communication through Expressive Objects

  Stephanie Valencia, Mark Steidl, Michael L. Rivera, Cynthia L. Bennett, Jeffrey P. Bigham, Henny Admoni (2023) — Communications of the ACM

  This paper explores how physical motion through an expressive object — a "sidekick" — can support nonverbal communication for augmented communicators (ACs) who use AAC devices. The work centres on Mark, a co-author with cerebral palsy who has used AA…

  • AAC
  • augmentative and alternative communication
  • cerebral palsy
  • nonverbal communication
  • co-design
  • participatory design
  • assistive technology
  • motor disabilities
  • turn-taking

• SpeechOmeter: Heads-up Monitoring to Improve Speech Clarity

  Mansoor Pervaiz, Rupal Patel (2014) — Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility (ASSETS '14)

  This demonstration paper presents SpeechOmeter, a Google Glass application that provides real-time visual biofeedback on vocal loudness to help individuals with neuromotor speech disorders (dysarthria) speak more clearly during daily conversation. Dy…

  • speech disorders
  • dysarthria
  • speech therapy
  • wearable technology
  • biofeedback
  • multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson's disease
  • cerebral palsy
  • assistive technology
  • Google Glass

• Design and Evaluation of a Networked Game to Support Social Connection of Youth with Cerebral Palsy

  Hamilton A. Hernandez, Mallory Ketcheson, Adrian Schneider, Zi Ye, Darcy Fehlings, Lauren Switzer, Virginia Wright, Shelly K. Bursick, Chad Richards, T.C. Nicholas Graham (2014) — ASSETS '14: Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This paper presents Liberi, a networked video game custom-designed to foster social interaction among youth with cerebral palsy (CP). Youth with CP—particularly those classified at GMFCS level III who require mobility aids—experience social isolation…

  • cerebral palsy
  • game accessibility
  • social interaction
  • motor impairments
  • inclusive design
  • exergaming
  • participatory design
  • youth