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• I tried everything. Nothing works: Challenges and Creative Processes from Digital Artists with Upper Limb Motor Impairments

  Rodolfo Cossovich, Shanel Wu, Audrey Girouard · 2024 · ASSETS 2024: 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This study investigates the complex relationship between accessibility challenges and creative processes for digital artists with upper limb motor impairments. Through 15 semi-structured interviews with artists who regularly use graphic input devices (mice, digital pads,…

  motor impairment · digital art · creative processes · graphic input devices · disability art

• From Information Seeking to Empowerment: Using Large Language Model Chatbot in Supporting Wheelchair Life in Low Resource Settings

  Wen Mo, Aneesha Singh, Catherine Holloway · 2024 · Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper explores the deployment of Wheelpedia, a WhatsApp chatbot powered by GPT-4, as a design probe to support wheelchair users and professionals in Nigeria and Kenya over a two-month period. The WHO estimates that approximately 80 million people globally require a…

  wheelchair · assistive technology · chatbot · large language model · low and middle-income countries

• "We Musicians Know How to Divide and Conquer": Exploring Multimodal Interactions To Improve Music Reading and Memorization for Blind and Low Vision Learners

  Leon Lu, Chase Crispin, Audrey Girouard · 2024 · Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper investigates how multimodal assistive technologies (MATs) combining sound, vibration, and touch can improve music reading and memorization for blind or low-vision (BLV) musicians and learners. The study involved nine BLV participants from The FMDG Music School in New…

  visual impairment · music accessibility · Braille music · multimodal interaction · vibrotactile feedback

• A Recipe for Success? Exploring Strategies for Improving Non-Visual Access to Cooking Instructions

  Franklin Mingzhe Li, Ashley Wang, Patrick Carrington, Shaun K. Kane · 2024 · Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2024)

  This paper investigates how people with vision impairments access and follow cooking recipes, identifying practices, challenges, and design opportunities for more accessible kitchen technologies. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 blind cooks (ranging…

  blind · visual impairment · cooking accessibility · recipe access · assistive technology

• MaskSound: Exploring Sound Masking Approaches to Support People with Autism in Managing Noise Sensitivity

  Anna Y Park, Andy Jin, Jeremy Zhengqi Huang, Jesse Carr, Dhruv Jain · 2024 · Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2024)

  This paper investigates sound masking as an alternative strategy for helping autistic individuals manage noise sensitivity in everyday environments. Unlike noise cancellation or isolation approaches that block out environmental sounds entirely, sound masking introduces ambient…

  autism · noise sensitivity · sound masking · sensory accessibility · auditory environment

• Looking Past Screens: Exploring Mixed Reality and Discreet AAC Devices

  Humphrey Curtis, Adam D G Jenkins, Seray B Ibrahim, Timothy Neate · 2024 · Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2024)

  This paper challenges the dominance of tablet-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices by co-designing mixed reality (MR) and discreet assistive technologies with people living with aphasia following stroke. Current AAC devices are typically…

  augmentative and alternative communication · mixed reality · aphasia · co-design · wearable technology

• The Promise and Pitfalls of Web Accessibility Overlays for Blind and Low Vision Users

  Tlamelo Makati, Garreth W. Tigwell, Kristen Shinohara · 2024 · Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2024)

  This study provides the first substantial empirical evidence from blind and low-vision users about their experiences with web accessibility overlays—third-party JavaScript tools that claim to enhance website usability for people with disabilities by adding an additional…

  web accessibility · accessibility overlays · screen readers · blind users · low vision

• Brain Body Jockey project: Transcending Bodily Limitations in Live Performance via Human Augmentation

  Giulia Barbareschi, Songchen Zhou, Ando Ryoichi, Midori Kawaguchi, Mark Armstrong, Mikito Ogino, Shunsuke Aoiki, Eisaku Ohta, Harunobu Taguchi, Youichi Kamiyama, Masatane Muto, Kentaro Yoshifuji, Kouta Minamizawa · 2024 · Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2024)

  This paper documents a groundbreaking collaboration between a professional VDJ (video disc jockey) with advanced Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and a team of researchers and technologists to create a human augmentation system enabling brain-controlled robotic arms for live…

  brain-machine interface · ALS · human augmentation · disability arts · robotic arms

• Audio Description Customization

  Rosiana Natalie, Ruei-Che Chang, Smitha Sheshadri, Anhong Guo, Kotaro Hara · 2024 · Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2024)

  This paper investigates how audio descriptions (AD) for video content can be customized to meet the diverse preferences of blind and low-vision (BLV) users. Traditional ADs are fixed narratives created by sighted describers, offering no ability for users to adjust what…

  audio description · blind and low vision · customization · video accessibility · assistive technology

• The Treatment of Amblyopia and Astigmatism through Eye Tracking and Serious Games

  Tahani Jaser Alahmadi, Rania AlAblani, Najla Bin Eid, Reyoof AlHumaidi, Amal AlMeiman, Farah AlNujaidi · 2024 · Proceedings of the 21st International Web for All Conference (W4A '24)

  This paper presents Abs'arnna, a mobile application that combines serious games with eye-tracking technology to treat amblyopia (lazy eye) and astigmatism in children. The authors from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Saudi Arabia address a significant gap in…

  serious games · eye tracking · vision therapy · assistive technology · pediatric accessibility

• "Pretty Much an Advocate as Well": Investigating the Experiences of Self-Employed Individuals with Visual Impairments

  Mei-Lian Vader, Marjory Pineda, Foad Hamidi, Ravi Kuber · 2024 · Proceedings of the 21st International Web for All Conference (W4A '24)

  This paper from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County explores the experiences of 14 self-employed individuals with visual impairments in the United States, examining how technology shapes their work as small business owners and independent contractors. Participants…

  blindness · visual impairment · self-employment · entrepreneurship · workplace accessibility

• Beyond Sight: Empowering Visually Impaired Users with Audible Graphs

  Wajdi Aljedaani, Uday Kiran Chimpiri, Durgasantosh Gaddam, Vaseem Ahammed Shaik, Yaswitha Karasala, Marcelo M. Eler · 2024 · Proceedings of the 21st International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This technical note presents a tool designed to make data visualizations accessible to people with visual impairments by converting them into audible and textual representations. The tool addresses a significant gap: while data visualization is central to modern information…

  data visualization · visual impairments · sonification · screen readers · optical character recognition

• Direct or Immersive? Comparing Smartphone-based Museum Guide Systems for Blind Visitors

  Xiyue Wang, Seita Kayukawa, Hironobu Takagi, Giorgia Masoero, Chieko Asakawa · 2024 · Proceedings of the 21st International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper presents the first direct comparison of two smartphone-based museum guide paradigms for blind visitors: a "direct" system using turn-by-turn navigation with VoiceOver-controlled audio descriptions, and an "immersive" system using spatialized sound navigation with…

  museum accessibility · blindness · indoor navigation · spatialized audio · screen readers

• Using Convolutional Neural Networks for Visual Sign Language Recognition: Towards a system that provides instant feedback to learners of sign language

  Rami Aldahir, Ronald R. Grau · 2024 · Proceedings of the 21st International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This short paper presents a prototype system that uses computer vision and a convolutional neural network (CNN) to recognize finger-spelled letters in British Sign Language (BSL), providing real-time feedback to learners. The system addresses a gap in sign language instruction:…

  sign language · British Sign Language · computer vision · deep learning · fingerspelling

• Toward Effective Communication of AI-Based Decisions in Assistive Tools: Conveying Confidence and Doubt to People with Visual Impairments at Accelerated Speech

  Taslima Akter, Manohar Swaminathan, Apu Kapadia · 2024 · Proceedings of the 21st International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper investigates how people with visual impairments (PVIs) perceive confidence and doubt in speakers' voices when audio is played at accelerated speeds — a critical question because AI-based assistive tools (scene descriptors, facial recognition, image captioners) can…

  visual impairments · artificial intelligence · speech processing · screen readers · assistive technology

• Decoding the Privacy Policies of Assistive Technologies

  Kirk Crawford, Yi Xuan Khoo, Asha Kumar, Helena Mentis, Foad Hamidi · 2024 · Proceedings of the 21st International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper systematically analyzes the privacy policies of 18 assistive technologies available in the United States, examining how these companies communicate data collection and processing practices to their users. The researchers used the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for…

  privacy · assistive technology · policy analysis · data protection · informed consent

• An Investigation of the Experiences of Orientation and Mobility Trainers in India

  Rohit Asave, Ravi Kuber, Foad Hamidi · 2024 · Proceedings of the 21st International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This qualitative study examines the experiences of twelve orientation and mobility (O&M) trainers working across urban and rural settings in India, a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) where infrastructure, resources, and cultural attitudes toward disability differ markedly…

  orientation and mobility · visual impairment · Global South accessibility · training · blindness

• Exploring the SoundVizVR Plugin in the Development of Sound-Accessible Virtual Reality Games: Insights from Game Developers and Players

  Yuxin Li, Roshan Lalintha Peiris · 2024 · Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (CSCW)

  This paper presents SoundVizVR, a Unity plugin designed to make virtual reality games accessible to deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) users by visualizing in-game sounds. The research addresses a significant gap in VR accessibility—while visual content has received attention…

  VR accessibility · deaf and hard of hearing · sound visualization · game development · assistive technology

• I Don't Want to Sound Rude, but It's None of Their Business: Exploring Security and Privacy Concerns around Assistive Technology Use in Educational Settings

  Alisha Marsh, Lauren R. Milne · 2024 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This qualitative study investigates the security and privacy concerns of students with disabilities who use assistive technology (AT) in higher education settings. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 8 students who use various forms of AT (including screen…

  assistive technology · privacy · security · disability disclosure · higher education

• From Automation to User Empowerment: Investigating the Role of a Semi-automatic Tool in Social Media Accessibility

  Leticia Seixas Pereira, Jose Coelho, Andre Rodrigues, Joao Guerreiro, Tiago Guerreiro, Carlos Duarte · 2024 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents SONAAR (Social Networks Accessible Authoring), a semi-automatic tool designed to improve social media accessibility by combining AI-powered image recognition with user-generated descriptions. The research addresses a persistent problem in digital…

  social media accessibility · alternative text · image descriptions · crowdsourcing · assistive technology

• In-Page Navigation Aids for Screen-Reader Users with Automatic Topicalisation and Labelling

  Jorge Sassaki Resende Silva, Paula Christina Figueira Cardoso, Raphael Winckler De Bettio, Daniela Cardoso Tavares, Carlos Alberto Silva, Willian Massami Watanabe, Andre Pimenta Freire · 2024 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper addresses a fundamental challenge for screen reader users: navigating lengthy web documents that lack proper heading structure. When web pages do not include semantic headings or internal navigation links, users must read content linearly, which increases cognitive…

  screen readers · navigation · natural language processing · topic segmentation · large language models

• Helping or Hindering: Inclusive Design of Automated Task Prompting for Workers with Cognitive Disabilities

  Gavin R. Philips, Morris Huang, Cathy Bodine · 2024 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper addresses the significant employment barriers faced by people with cognitive disabilities (PwCDs) in the United States, where only 28.6% of the approximately 8.8 million working-age adults with cognitive disabilities are employed. Those who do find work often receive…

  cognitive disability · intellectual disability · vocational support · employment · assistive technology

• A3C: An Image-Association-Based Computing Device Authentication Framework for People with Upper Extremity Impairments

  Brittany Lewis, Priyankan Kirupaharan, Tina-Marie Ranalli, Krishna Venkatasubramanian · 2024 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents A3C (Accessible image-Association-based Authentication for Computing devices), a novel authentication framework designed for people with upper extremity impairments (UEI). Over 20 million Americans have conditions—including traumatic injuries, degenerative…

  authentication · upper extremity impairments · graphical authentication · security · assistive technology

• Invisible, Unreadable, and Inaudible Cookie Notices: An Evaluation of Cookie Notices for Users with Visual Impairments

  Janice M. Clarke, Maryam Mehrnezhad, Ehsan Toreini · 2024 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study investigates the accessibility of cookie notices for users with visual impairments (VI), combining automated testing of 46 top UK websites with a user study of 100 participants who use assistive technology. The researchers employed multiple testing approaches: WAVE…

  screen readers · visual impairments · privacy · web accessibility · cookie consent

• System-class Accessibility: The Architectural Support for Making a Whole System Usable by People with Disabilities

  Chris Fleizach, Jeffrey P. Bigham · 2024 · ACM Queue

  This article introduces the concept of "system-class accessibility" — the architectural support built into an operating system to make the entire platform usable by people with disabilities. Written by Chris Fleizach (who led the development of VoiceOver on iOS at Apple) and…

  accessibility API · screen readers · VoiceOver · iOS accessibility · operating systems