Trace Center

A leading accessibility research center originally founded at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1971, now at the University of Maryland. The Trace Center pioneered foundational work in accessible technology, including early accessibility guidelines that influenced Section 508 and WCAG. Research areas include accessible interfaces, cognitive accessibility, and unified design frameworks. Trace has been funded by NIDILRR (formerly NIDRR) and NSF, and has produced influential tools and guidelines used throughout the accessibility field. The center played a key role in developing the concept of universal design in technology.