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• Life as an International Computer Science PhD Student with Cerebral Palsy

  Tianchi Mo, Humphrey Curtis, Timothy Neate · 2025 · ASSETS 2025: 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper presents a longitudinal autoethnographic study of Tianchi, an international PhD student with cerebral palsy (CP) navigating the final stages of his doctoral journey in Computer Science at Stony Brook University. Born in China in 1990, Tianchi experienced medical…

  cerebral palsy · autoethnography · assistive technology · augmentative and alternative communication · graduate education

• Exploring the Usability of Gaze-based Mobile Communication in Ghana

  Victoria Austin, Gifty Ayoka, Giulia Barbareschi, Richard Cave, Catherine Holloway · 2025 · ASSETS 2025: 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This study evaluates the usability of Look to Speak, a free Android-based eye-gaze AAC application developed by Google Creative Lab, for people with severe communication disabilities in Ghana. The research involved training 10 local speech and language therapists (SLTs) and…

  augmentative communication · AAC · eye gaze · Global South · Ghana

• QC Speller: User Interface Design of a Hands-Free Touch-Free Speller with Brain Electroencephalogram Sensory Rhythm

  Tulika Nama, Debasis Samanta · 2025 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents QC Speller, a novel brain-computer interface (BCI) text entry system designed for people with severe motor impairments who cannot use traditional keyboards, mice, or touchscreens. The system uses electroencephalography (EEG) to detect motor imagery…

  brain-computer interface · motor imagery · EEG · text entry · motor impairment

• Self-supervised learning using unlabeled speech with multiple types of speech disorder for disordered speech recognition

  Ryoichi Takashima, Takeru Otani, Ryo Aihara, Tetsuya Takiguchi, Shinya Taguchi · 2024 · Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2024)

  This paper tackles a critical barrier in accessible speech technology: automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems perform poorly for people with speech disorders because they are trained almost exclusively on typical speech. The authors from Kobe University and Mitsubishi…

  speech recognition · speech disorders · machine learning · self-supervised learning · assistive technology

• 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

• 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

• Aided Nonverbal Communication through Physical Expressive Objects

  Stephanie Valencia, Mark Steidl, Michael Rivera, Cynthia Bennett, Jeffrey Bigham, Henny Admoni · 2021 · Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper presents an in-depth case study of co-designing a physical expressive "sidekick" device to support nonverbal communication for an augmented communicator (AC) named Mark, who has cerebral palsy and uses a head-switch-operated AAC device. While AAC systems enable speech…

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

• Co-designing Socially Assistive Sidekicks for Motion-based AAC

  Stephanie Valencia, Michal Luria, Amy Pavel, Jeffrey P. Bigham, Henny Admoni · 2021 · Proceedings of the 2021 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI '21)

  This paper explores how socially assistive robots, framed as "sidekicks," could provide AAC users with a nonverbal channel of communication to support their conversational goals. While AAC devices enable speech-based communication through synthesized speech, they do not support…

  AAC · nonverbal communication · socially assistive robots · co-design · human-robot interaction

• Computer Vision-based Methodology to Support AAC

  Rúbia Eliza de Oliveira Schultz Ascari, Roberto Pereira, Luciano Silva · 2020 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents a methodology for supporting augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) through personalized gestural interaction using computer vision and machine learning. The authors developed the PGCA (Personal Gesture Communication Assistant) system, which enables…

  AAC · augmentative and alternative communication · computer vision · machine learning · gesture recognition

• Conversational Agency in Augmentative and Alternative Communication

  Stephanie Valencia, Amy Pavel, Jared Santa Maria, Seunga (Gloria) Yu, Jeffrey P. Bigham, Henny Admoni · 2020 · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

  This paper introduces conversational agency as a new framework for studying how augmented communicators (ACs) — people who use AAC devices to speak — participate in and influence conversations. While prior AAC research has focused primarily on improving device throughput and…

  AAC · augmentative and alternative communication · cerebral palsy · conversational agency · communication partners

• A Study on Customizing Interaction in Adaptable Games

  Caio Pinheiro de Carvalho, Suzane Santos dos Santos, Gabriel de Magalhães Escudeiro, Kelly Vale Pinheiro, Nelson Cruz Sampaio Neto, Marcelle Pereira Mota · 2019 · Proceedings of the 18th Brazilian Symposium on Human Factors in Computing Systems (IHC)

  This paper from the Federal University of Pará (Brazil) investigates customization features for adaptable games designed as assistive technology tools for children with disabilities, where healthcare professionals configure the games to match each child's therapeutic needs. The…

  game accessibility · assistive technology · cognitive accessibility · intellectual disability · personalization

• Vocal Programming for People with Upper-Body Motor Impairments

  Lucas Rosenblatt, Patrick Carrington, Kotaro Hara, Jeffrey P. Bigham · 2018 · Proceedings of the 15th International Web for All Conference (W4A 2018)

  This paper presents VocalIDE, a prototype voice-based integrated development environment (IDE) designed to enable people with upper-body motor impairments to write and edit computer code using speech commands rather than a keyboard. Only 4% of professional programmers have…

  speech recognition · motor impairment · cerebral palsy · spinal cord injury · programming education

• Designing a Context Aware AAC Solution

  Conor McKillop · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '18)

  This student research competition paper explores the design of a context-aware AAC keyboard prototype that uses mobile device sensors — particularly GPS and Wi-Fi positioning — to suggest location-relevant phrases and categories for people with speech, language, and…

  augmentative and alternative communication · context awareness · word prediction · cerebral palsy · mobile accessibility

• Using Participatory Design with Proxies with Children with Limited Communication

  Foad Hamidi, Melanie Baljko, Isabel Gómez · 2017 · Proceedings of the 19th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '17)

  This paper explores the use of Participatory Design with Proxies (PDwP) as a methodology for including children with severe communication limitations in the design of digital technologies. PDwP is a variation of participatory design where people familiar with the target users —…

  participatory design · children with disabilities · communication accessibility · augmentative and alternative communication · design methodology

• Design and Development of One-Switch Video Games for Children with Severe Motor Disabilities

  Sebastián A. López, Fulvio Corno, Luigi De Russis · 2017 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper addresses a significant gap in accessible gaming: children with severe motor disabilities who rely on single-switch interfaces have limited access to action-oriented video games. While cause-and-effect and scanning-based games exist, dynamic games requiring quick…

  accessible gaming · one-switch · single-switch · motor disabilities · children

• A System for Controlling Assisted Living Environments Using Mobile Devices

  Paulo A. Condado, Fernando G. Lobo · 2015 · ASSETS '15: Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This paper presents EasyHouse, a smartphone-based home automation system designed to be accessible for people with motor disabilities while remaining usable by all family members. The system addresses a gap in the smart home market: most domotic (home automation) products target…

  home automation · smart home · motor disabilities · cerebral palsy · mobile accessibility

• Individuality-Preserving Voice Conversion for Articulation Disorders Using Phoneme-Categorized Exemplars

  Ryo Aihara, Tetsuya Takiguchi, Yasuo Ariki · 2015 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents a voice conversion system designed to improve speech intelligibility for people with articulation disorders resulting from athetoid cerebral palsy, while critically preserving the speaker's voice individuality. Cerebral palsy affects about 2 in 1,000 births,…

  voice conversion · articulation disorders · cerebral palsy · speech technology · assistive technology

• Intelligibility Assessment and Speech Recognizer Word Accuracy Rate Prediction for Dysarthric Speakers in a Factor Analysis Subspace

  David Martínez, Phil Green, Heidi Christensen · 2015 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents a novel approach to assessing speech intelligibility and predicting automatic speech recognition (ASR) accuracy for speakers with dysarthria using iVectors, a technique from speaker verification research. The authors address a critical challenge in assistive…

  dysarthric speech · speech recognition · intelligibility assessment · iVectors · factor analysis

• Design and Evaluation of a Networked Game to Support Social Connection of Youth with Cerebral Palsy

  Hamilton A. Hernandez, Mallory Ketcheson, Adrian Schneider, Zi Ye, Darcy Fehlings, Lauren Switzer, Virginia Wright, Shelly K. Bursick, Chad Richards, T.C. Nicholas Graham · 2014 · ASSETS '14: Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This paper presents Liberi, a networked video game custom-designed to foster social interaction among youth with cerebral palsy (CP). Youth with CP—particularly those classified at GMFCS level III who require mobility aids—experience social isolation due to mobility limitations…

  cerebral palsy · game accessibility · social interaction · motor impairments · inclusive design

• SpeechOmeter: Heads-up Monitoring to Improve Speech Clarity

  Mansoor Pervaiz, Rupal Patel · 2014 · Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility (ASSETS '14)

  This demonstration paper presents SpeechOmeter, a Google Glass application that provides real-time visual biofeedback on vocal loudness to help individuals with neuromotor speech disorders (dysarthria) speak more clearly during daily conversation. Dysarthria accompanies…

  speech disorders · dysarthria · speech therapy · wearable technology · biofeedback

• Performing Locomotion Tasks in Immersive Computer Games with an Adapted Eye-Tracking Interface

  Stephen Vickers, Howell Istance, Aulikki Hyrskykari · 2013 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents an approach to designing and adapting eye-gaze interaction techniques for locomotion tasks in immersive 3D games, specifically targeting young people with severe physical disabilities. The researchers developed a "transparent overlay" technique where…

  eye tracking · game accessibility · cerebral palsy · muscular dystrophy · adaptive interfaces

• Physical Accessibility of Touchscreen Smartphones

  Shari Trewin, Cal Swart, Donna Pettick · 2013 · Proceedings of the 15th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper examines touchscreen smartphone adoption and usability for people with dexterity impairments through interviews and hands-on observations with 16 participants (mean age 40) at a New York centre serving approximately 3,500 people with physical disabilities annually.…

  motor impairment · dexterity impairment · touchscreen · mobile accessibility · smartphone

• Wii Remote as a Web Navigation Device for People with Cerebral Palsy

  Nithin Santhanam · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This short paper evaluates the Nintendo Wii remote as an alternative web navigation device for people with cerebral palsy, compared to a standard wireless mouse. Despite the abundance of accessibility tools, customizable and inexpensive options for people with motor impairments…

  cerebral palsy · alternative input device · motor impairment · web accessibility · Wii remote

• iSCAN: A Phoneme-based Predictive Communication Aid for Nonspeaking Individuals

  Ha Trinh, Annalu Waller, Keith Vertanen, Per Ola Kristensson, Vicki L. Hanson · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This paper presents iSCAN (Interactive Sound-based Communication Aid for Non-speakers), a phoneme-based predictive communication system designed for people with severe speech impairments (SSI) who lack conventional literacy skills. The core problem is that most augmentative and…

  augmentative and alternative communication · phoneme-based communication · predictive text · word prediction · severe speech impairment

• Liberi and the Racer Bike: Exergaming Technology for Children with Cerebral Palsy

  Zi Ye, Hamilton A. Hernandez, T.C. Nicholas Graham, Darcy Fehlings, Lauren Switzer, Md Ameer Hamza, Irina Schumann · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This demonstration paper presents Liberi, a multiplayer exercise video game, and a custom cycling-based exergaming station designed to enable children with cerebral palsy (CP) to engage in vigorous physical exercise while playing with peers. Children with CP face limited…

  cerebral palsy · exergame · children · physical activity · participatory design