A11yFutures: Envisioning the Future of Accessibility Research
Jennifer Mankoff, Kelly Avery Mack, Jason Wiese, Kirk Andrew Crawford, Foad Hamidi · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023) · doi:10.1145/3597638.3615652
Summary
This workshop paper proposes a framework for understanding the evolution of accessibility research through three "waves" and argues that the field needs to broaden significantly into what the authors call "third wave accessibility." The first wave of accessibility research was almost entirely technology-focused, concentrated on making digital devices and interfaces usable by people with disabilities — establishing foundations for accessible GUIs, websites, and mobile devices. The second wave extended into new technological domains (VR/XR accessibility, AI and accessibility, computer vision for accessibility, accessible fabrication, speech-based in-home agents) and began leveraging computing to make the broader world more accessible. The third wave, which the authors argue the field is now entering, is driven by the recognition that people with disabilities are present in all the same spaces as people without disabilities — often over- or under-represented — and this raises new access questions across a much wider range of domains. The workshop aimed to bring the ASSETS community together through hybrid discussions (West Coast at University of Washington, East Coast at NYU) and an asynchronous photo collection activity to identify overlooked and underexplored areas for accessibility research.
Key findings
The paper identifies several critical gaps in current accessibility research. Domains where people with disabilities are under-represented include higher education, and under-studied populations include forced migrants with disabilities. Intersectional identities such as race and disability remain underexplored. Domains where people with disabilities are over-represented but understudied include unhoused populations, the carceral system, and disaster response contexts where disabled people face higher risk of harm. The authors also call for research into positive aspects of disability culture — mutual aid, disabled joy, sports, hobbies (knitting is cited as an example), and family life — rather than focusing exclusively on barriers and deficits. The workshop structure encouraged participants to consider three questions for each topic: what are important research questions at the intersection of technology, disability, and the topic; how to center the perspectives of people with disabilities who live at that intersection; and what are the risks and opportunities of engaging with that topic.
Relevance
This paper is significant for accessibility practitioners and researchers because it challenges the field to move beyond its traditional focus on making technology usable and toward addressing the full range of contexts in which disabled people live, work, and participate. The three-wave framework provides a useful lens for understanding where the field has been and where it needs to go. For organizations and developers, the implications are clear: accessibility work should not be limited to compliance and interface design but should consider how technology intersects with housing, criminal justice, disaster preparedness, education, recreation, and culture. The emphasis on intersectionality — examining how disability intersects with race, gender, sexuality, immigration status, and socioeconomic factors — pushes accessibility work toward a more nuanced understanding of the diverse experiences within the disability community. The call to study disabled joy and culture alongside barriers is a valuable corrective to deficit-focused approaches.
Tags: accessibility research · disability studies · inclusive design · intersectionality · research methodology · disability culture · participatory design