Literature Reviews

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

• Tangibles + Programming + Audio Stories = Fun

  Varsha Koushik, Shaun K. Kane (2017) — Proceedings of the 19th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '17)

  This poster introduces Story Blocks, a tangible programming toolkit designed to make block-based programming accessible to blind and visually impaired users. Block-based programming languages like Scratch and Blockly are popular tools for teaching ch…

  • programming education
  • blindness
  • visual impairment
  • tangible interaction
  • children
  • inclusive design
  • STEM accessibility
  • block-based programming

• Digital Strategies for Supporting Strengths- and Interests-based Learning with Children with Autism

  Cara Wilson, Margot Brereton, Bernd Ploderer, Laurianne Sitbon, Beth Saggers (2017) — Proceedings of the 19th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper investigates how an open-ended audio-visual calendaring app called MeCalendar was appropriated by children with autism and their teachers in classroom settings, shifting the focus from deficit-remediation to strengths- and interests-based …

  • autism
  • educational technology
  • children
  • strengths-based approach
  • self-determination
  • participatory design
  • inclusive design
  • classroom technology
  • self-expression
  • neurodiversity

• Blocks4All Demonstration: a Blocks-Based Programming Environment for Blind Children

  Lauren R. Milne, Catherine M. Baker, Richard E. Ladner (2017) — Proceedings of the 19th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  Blocks4All is a tablet-based iOS application designed to make blocks-based programming accessible to blind and low-vision children. Blocks-based programming environments like Scratch and Blockly have become central to K-12 computer science education …

  • programming education
  • blindness
  • children
  • touchscreen accessibility
  • screen readers
  • blocks-based programming
  • educational technology
  • inclusive design

• Interdependence as a Frame for Assistive Technology Research and Design

  Cynthia L. Bennett, Erin Brady, Stacy M. Branham (2018) — Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This influential paper introduces interdependence as a complementary frame to the traditional focus on independence in assistive technology research and design. The authors argue that "independence" — long the unquestioned gold standard of AT design …

  • disability studies
  • assistive technology
  • interdependence
  • independence
  • disability justice
  • inclusive design
  • social model of disability
  • accessibility theory
  • co-design

• Design and Evaluation of a Multimodal Science Simulation

  Brianna J. Tomlinson, Prakriti Kaini, Siyan Zhou, Taliesin L. Smith, Emily B. Moore, Bruce N. Walker (2018) — Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '18)

  This demonstration paper presents a multimodal version of PhET's John Travoltage interactive physics simulation, designed to support learners with and without visual impairments in exploring static electricity concepts. The key design goal was creati…

  • STEM accessibility
  • sonification
  • multimodal interface
  • visual impairment
  • science education
  • PhET
  • auditory display
  • screen readers
  • universal design
  • inclusive design

• Tangicraft: A Multimodal Interface for Minecraft

  David Bar-El, Thomas Large, Lydia Davison, Marcelo Worsley (2018) — Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '18)

  This demonstration paper presents Tangicraft, a work-in-progress multimodal interface designed to enable visually impaired children to play and collaborate in Minecraft, one of the world's most popular video games with over 121 million copies sold. L…

  • game accessibility
  • visual impairment
  • children
  • haptic feedback
  • tangible interface
  • multimodal interface
  • educational technology
  • inclusive design
  • Minecraft

• Incorporating Social Factors in Accessible Design

  Kristen Shinohara, Jacob O. Wobbrock, Wanda Pratt (2018) — Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '18)

  This paper investigates how professional designers can incorporate social factors into accessible design using Design for Social Accessibility (DSA), a framework developed in prior work by Shinohara and Wobbrock. The core premise is that accessible d…

  • design methodology
  • social accessibility
  • inclusive design
  • user-centered design
  • visual impairment
  • design workshops
  • participatory design
  • stigma
  • ability-based design

• Towards Bridging the Accessibility Needs of People with Disabilities and the Ageing Community

  Shadi Abou-Zahra, Judy Brewer, Andrew Arch (2008) — Proceedings of the 2008 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This keynote paper introduces the WAI-AGE (Web Accessibility Initiative: Ageing Education and Harmonisation) project, a 36-month W3C/WAI initiative funded by the European Commission under its 6th Framework Programme. The project aimed to bridge the g…

  • web accessibility
  • aging
  • accessibility policy
  • WCAG
  • standards harmonization
  • W3C
  • WAI
  • education
  • inclusive design
  • European accessibility

• The False Dichotomy between Accessibility and Usability

  Ed H. Chi (2013) — Proceedings of the 10th International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This keynote paper by Ed H. Chi of Google argues that the traditional separation between accessibility research and usability/HCI research is a false dichotomy built on two myths. The first myth is the "average user" — HCI research inherited this con…

  • usability
  • accessibility theory
  • universal design
  • inclusive design
  • human-computer interaction
  • design theory

• Widget Design Authoring Toolkit

  Elaine Pearson, Franck-Olivier Perrin (2014) — Proceedings of the 11th Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper presents WIDGaT (Widget Design and Authoring Toolkit), an open-source, code-free online tool that enables non-technical teaching and support staff to create personalised widgets for disabled students in higher education. The project, devel…

  • education accessibility
  • personalization
  • authoring tools
  • learning disabilities
  • assistive technology
  • open source
  • inclusive design
  • educational technology