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• Screen Magnification for Readers with Low Vision: A Study on Usability and Performance

  Meini Tang, Roberto Manduchi, Susana Chung, Raquel Prado · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This study investigates how people with low vision use two common screen magnification modes — full screen and lens — when reading documents and exploring web pages on a laptop computer. The researchers recruited 20 participants with a range of low vision conditions (including…

  screen magnification · low vision · reading performance · usability · mouse interaction

• Experimental Evaluation of Multi-scale Tactile Maps Created with SIM, a Web App for Indoor Map Authoring

  Viet Trinh, Roberto Manduchi, Nicholas A. Giudice · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper introduces Semantic Interior Mapology (SIM), a web application that democratizes tactile map creation by allowing anyone to trace a floor plan image and automatically generate embossable tactile maps at multiple scales. Unlike outdoor environments where services like…

  tactile maps · indoor navigation · blindness · spatial learning · orientation and mobility

• "Why are there so many steps?": Improving Access to Blind and Low Vision Music Learning through Personal Adaptations and Future Design Ideas

  Leon Lu, Karen Anne Cochrane, Jin Kang, Audrey Girouard · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study investigates the challenges blind and low vision (BLV) people face when learning music and identifies personal adaptations and design opportunities for assistive technologies. The researchers conducted one-hour semi-structured interviews with 40 participants across…

  blind · low vision · music learning · music pedagogy · braille music

• Understanding the Usages, Lifecycle, and Opportunities of Screen Readers' Plugins

  Farhani Momotaz, Md Ehtesham-Ul-Haque, Syed Masum Billah · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study investigates why blind users rely on screen reader plugins and how these plugins are developed, distributed, and maintained. The researchers combined two methodological approaches: semi-structured interviews with 14 blind participants (ages 24-52, expert to beginner…

  screen readers · NVDA · JAWS · plugins · extensions

• 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 AAC for over 19 years and…

  AAC · augmentative and alternative communication · cerebral palsy · nonverbal communication · co-design

• How and Why We Run: Investigating the Experiences of Blind and Visually-Impaired Runners

  Sidas Saulynas, Mei-Lian Vader, Apoorva Bendigeri, Tristan King, Anirudh Nagraj, Ravi Kuber · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This qualitative study investigates the running experiences of 13 legally blind individuals in the United States, exploring where and how they run, what assistance they use, the challenges they face, and how technology could better support them. Participants ranged from casual…

  blindness · visual impairment · physical activity · assistive technology · wearable technology

• "I'm Ok Because I'm Alive": Understanding Socio-cultural Accessibility Barriers for Refugees with Disabilities in the US

  Foad Hamidi, Zulekha Karachiwalla · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This qualitative study investigates the accessibility barriers faced by refugees with disabilities in the United States, drawing on interviews with six experts who serve refugee populations in Baltimore, Maryland. The research was conducted during the first year of the COVID-19…

  refugees · disability · mental health · cultural barriers · language access

• Personalized Wearable Interactions with WearSkill

  Ovidiu-Andrei Schipor, Laura-Bianca Bilius, Ovidiu-Ciprian Ungurean, Alexandru-Ionut Siean, Alexandru-Tudor Andrei, Radu-Daniel Vatavu · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This extended abstract presents WearSkill, a web-based middleware application that enables people with upper-body motor impairments to control connected smart home devices through personalised wearable interactions. The system addresses a significant gap: most wearable devices…

  wearable technology · motor impairment · personalization · smart home · gesture input

• Sounds and (Braille) Cells: Co-Designing Music Technology with Blind and Visually Impaired Musicians

  William Payne · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This doctoral consortium paper outlines a three-phase dissertation addressing the accessibility barriers that blind and visually impaired (BVI) musicians face when using music creation technologies. Music software has democratized composition, production, and songwriting for…

  visual impairment · blindness · music technology · braille music · co-design

• From the Lab to People's Home: Lessons from Accessing Blind Participants' Interactions via Smart Glasses in Remote Studies

  Kyungjun Lee, Jonggi Hong, Ebrima Jarjue, Ernest Essuah Mensah, Hernisa Kacorri · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper from the University of Maryland explores using smart glasses as an observational tool in remote usability studies with blind participants. The COVID-19 pandemic forced accessibility researchers to shift from in-person to remote methods, but standard remote setups —…

  blindness and low vision · smart glasses · remote usability testing · user research · assistive technology

• IMAGE: A Deployment Framework for Creating Multimodal Experiences of Web Graphics

  Juliette Regimbal, Jeffrey R. Blum, Jeremy R. Cooperstock · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This short paper from McGill University introduces IMAGE (Internet Multimodal Access to Graphical Exploration), an open-source framework for converting web graphics into accessible multimodal outputs including audio, haptic, and text representations for blind and low vision…

  multimodal · web graphics · image accessibility · haptic feedback · sonification

• Creating 3D Printed Assistive Technology Through Design Shortcuts: Leveraging Digital Fabrication Services to Incorporate 3D Printing into the Physical Therapy Classroom

  Erin Higgins, William Berkley Easley, Karen L. Gordes, Amy Hurst, Foad Hamidi · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper investigates how to integrate 3D printing into physical therapy (PT) education without requiring PT students to become experts in CAD or digital fabrication. Previous research showed that while 3D printing has great potential for creating customized assistive…

  3D printing · assistive technology · digital fabrication · physical therapy · education

• Depending on Independence: An Autoethnographic Account of Daily Use of Assistive Technologies

  Felix Fussenegger, Katta Spiel · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This experience report uses autoethnography to examine the daily realities of depending on assistive technologies (AT) from the first-person perspective of Felix Fussenegger, a person living with a high spinal cord injury (C6 level) resulting in complete sensory and motor…

  assistive technology · autoethnography · disability studies · independence · interdependence

• Assistive or Artistic Technologies? Exploring the Connections between Art, Disability and Wheelchair Use

  Giulia Barbareschi, Masa Inakage · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This paper explores the reciprocal influences between art, disability, and assistive technology use through semi-structured interviews with 17 artists who use wheelchairs for mobility. Participants spanned diverse artistic disciplines — dance (7), music and DJing (5), visual art…

  disability art · wheelchair accessibility · assistive technology · creativity · disability identity

• Access on Demand: Real-time, Multi-modal Accessibility for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing based on Augmented Reality

  Roshan Mathew, Brian Mak, Wendy Dannels · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This experience report documents two deaf researchers' hands-on evaluation of Access on Demand (AoD), an augmented reality application developed at Rochester Institute of Technology that delivers real-time captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation through Vuzix…

  augmented reality · deaf and hard of hearing · smart glasses · captioning · sign language interpretation

• Accessible PDFs: Applying Artificial Intelligence for Automated Remediation of STEM PDFs

  Felix M. Schmitt-Koopmann, Elaine M. Huang, Alireza Darvishy · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2022)

  This Ph.D. research paper presents a plan to leverage artificial intelligence to automate the remediation of PDF documents from STEM fields, addressing one of the most significant barriers to information access for people with visual impairments. The Portable Document Format…

  PDF accessibility · document remediation · artificial intelligence · STEM accessibility · mathematical formulae

• VRBubble: Enhancing Peripheral Awareness of Avatars for People with Visual Impairments in Social Virtual Reality

  Tiger F. Ji, Brianna Cochran, Yuhang Zhao · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2022)

  This paper introduces VRBubble, an audio-based interaction technique designed to make social virtual reality environments accessible to people with visual impairments (PVI). While social VR platforms like VRChat and Rec Room are growing rapidly as spaces for remote socialization…

  virtual reality accessibility · visual impairment · spatial audio · proxemics · social interaction

• Designing with and for People with Intellectual Disabilities

  Leandro Soares Guedes, Ryan Colin Gibson, Kirsten Ellis, Laurianne Sitbon, Monica Landoni · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This workshop paper proposes a half-day community-building event at ASSETS '22 focused on sharing expertise in designing technologies with and for people with intellectual disabilities. The authors identify that while assistive technologies can significantly support the…

  intellectual disability · co-design · participatory design · assistive technology · inclusive design

• Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Designing Accessible Systems for Users with Multiple Impairments: Grand Challenges and Opportunities for Future Research

  Arthur Theil, Chris Creed, Mohammed Shaqura, Nasrine Olson, Raymond John Holt, Sayan Sarcar, Stuart Murray · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 22)

  This workshop paper from ASSETS 2022 challenges a fundamental assumption in accessibility research: that designing for one impairment category at a time is sufficient. The authors argue that this single-impairment approach, while practical and widespread, oversimplifies…

  multiple impairments · assistive technology · disability studies · multidisciplinary design · inclusive design

• Freedom to Choose: Understanding Input Modality Preferences of People with Upper-body Motor Impairments for Activities of Daily Living

  Franklin Mingzhe Li, Michael Xieyang Liu, Yang Zhang, Patrick Carrington · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This paper investigates how people with upper-body motor impairments currently perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and what input modalities they would prefer for technology-assisted independence. ADLs encompass basic tasks like bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and…

  motor impairment · multimodal input · activities of daily living · assistive technology · personal care assistants

• BentoMuseum: 3D and Layered Interactive Museum Map for Blind Visitors

  Shi-Jie Wang, Tao Yang, Jia-Le Gao, Zhi-Yuan Tang, Meng-Xi Chen, Cheng-Yue Jia, Yue-Han Wang, Jian Zhao, Wei Zeng · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This paper presents BentoMuseum, a novel 3D-printed interactive museum map system designed to help blind visitors independently explore and navigate museum spaces. The system addresses a significant gap in museum accessibility — while museums increasingly provide accommodations…

  tactile maps · blind users · 3D printing · museum accessibility · audio-tactile interaction

• State of the Art in AAC: A Systematic Review and Taxonomy

  Humphrey Curtis, Timothy Neate, Carlota Vazquez Gonzalez · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This paper presents the first systematic review and taxonomy of high-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and interventions within the ACM literature. The authors analyzed 562 articles from the ACM Digital Library and SCOPUS databases spanning 43 years…

  augmentative and alternative communication · AAC · systematic review · taxonomy · complex communication needs

• Empowering Blind Musicians to Compose and Notate Music with SoundCells

  William Christopher Payne, Fabiha Ahmed, Michael Zachor, Michael Gardell, Isabel Huey, Amy Hurst, R. Luke DuBois · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This paper presents a six-week remote study in which six blind and visually impaired (BVI) musicians used SoundCells, a text-based music notation web application, to compose original short works culminating in a live performance by a professional musician. SoundCells addresses a…

  music accessibility · blindness · braille music · creative expression · assistive technology

• Lessons Learned from Designing, Deploying and Testing an Accessible BLE Beacon-based Wayfinding System in a Multi-Floor Indoor Environment

  Ajay Abraham · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This paper documents the practical guidelines and design decisions involved in deploying a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon-based indoor wayfinding system in a three-story college campus building. The system builds on GuideBeacon, a previously developed proximity-based indoor…

  indoor navigation · wayfinding · BLE beacon · blind and low vision · mobile accessibility

• Learning Music Blind: Understanding the Application of Technology to Support BLV Music Learning

  Leon Lu · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This doctoral consortium paper outlines a three-study PhD research program investigating how wearable technologies with vibrotactile feedback can support blind and low vision (BLV) music learners. The research is motivated by the significant barriers BLV people face in learning…

  music accessibility · blindness · low vision · haptic technology · wearable technology