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• Contextual Scaffolding and Self-Efficacy: Supporting Computer Skill Development among Blind Learners in India

  Akshay Kolgar Nayak, Yash Prakash, Sampath Jayarathna, Hae-Na Lee, Vikas Ashok · 2026 · Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '26)

  This paper presents a four-month contextual inquiry at two Indian computer training centers serving 94 blind or visually impaired (BVI) students — one urban center in Bengaluru focused on job-oriented ICT training (KEONICS certification) and one rural residential blind school in…

  screen readers · blind and low vision · computer literacy · Global South accessibility · India

• Building Care That Fits Its People: Insights from Social Media-Enabled Community-Based Rehabilitation in Thailand

  Acarima Nanthanasit, Sophia Ppali, Wan-Jou She, Panote Siriaraya, Thammathip Piumsomboon, Siwaporn Sukittanon, Chee Siang Ang, Alexandra Covaci · 2026 · Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '26)

  This CHI 2026 paper reports on a six-month, multi-platform social media intervention for Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) of stroke patients in rural Chiang Mai, Thailand. The authors co-designed content with clinicians, Village Health Volunteers (VHVs), and community…

  Community-Based Rehabilitation · digital health · social media · Global South accessibility · stroke recovery

• Human-Centered Explainable AI for Brain-Computer Interface-driven Rehabilitation

  Param Rajpura · 2026 · Extended Abstracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA ’26)

  This CHI Extended Abstract presents a doctoral research agenda developing human-centered explainable AI (HCXAI) frameworks for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) used in stroke rehabilitation. Rajpura argues that current BCI systems prioritize technical performance, such as…

  brain-computer interface · explainable AI · stroke rehabilitation · aphasia · human-centered AI

• VisionAid: A Multimodal Assistive Application Supporting Safe Road Navigation for Visually Impaired People in Bangladesh

  Asif Mahbub, Nabil Bin Hannan · 2026 · Extended Abstracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA ’26)

  VisionAid is an Android pedestrian-safety app for blind and low vision (BLV) users in Bangladesh, where road crossing is dangerous because traffic is unstructured: lane discipline is rare, drivers run signals, and crosswalks are inconsistent. The authors argue that…

  blind and low vision · pedestrian navigation · mobile accessibility · computer vision · haptic feedback

• Crippin' WhatsApp's Interaction Design: Learnings from the blind/visually impaired users of India

  Hrittika Bhowmick, Atharva Shrivastava, Sandeep Ysp, Shilpaa Anand, Dipanjan Chakraborty · 2025 · Proceedings of the 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2025)

  This paper examines how blind and visually impaired users in India navigate WhatsApp, using critical disability studies and Roland Barthes' concept of myth to argue that WhatsApp's design naturalizes visual interaction as universal while marginalizing auditory, haptic, and…

  screen readers · blind users · social media accessibility · Global South accessibility · critical disability studies

• Understanding How Visually Impaired Players Socialize in Mobile Games

  Zihe Ran, Xiyu Li, Qing Xiao, Yanyun Wang, Franklin Mingzhe Li, Zhicong Lu · 2025 · Proceedings of the 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2025)

  This study examines how visually impaired players in China use mobile games as platforms for socialization, going beyond the typical focus on gameplay accessibility to investigate the social dimensions of gaming. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 30…

  game accessibility · blind and low vision · social interaction · mobile accessibility · Global South accessibility

• 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

• Me, the Web and Digital Accessibility

  Reinaldo Ferraz · 2024 · Companion Proceedings of the ACM Web Conference 2024 (WWW)

  This personal essay traces the parallel trajectories of Reinaldo Ferraz's career and the evolution of the web in Brazil, from his first encounter with computers in 1992 through his current role at NIC.br (the Brazilian Network Information Center). Born in 1977 in a São Paulo…

  autoethnography · web accessibility · Brazil · web standards · digital accessibility history

• A platform to check website compliance with web accessibility standards

  Reinaldo Ferraz, Ana Duarte, João Bárbara, Adriano C.M. Pereira, Wagner Meira · 2023 · Proceedings of the 20th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This short paper presents the TIC Web Acessibilidade platform, a comprehensive system for evaluating and monitoring the accessibility of Brazilian government websites at scale. Developed by NIC.br (the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee's executive arm) in collaboration with…

  automated testing · web accessibility · government accessibility · accessibility monitoring · web crawler

• Improving Web and Mobile Accessibility Resources for Iranian Designers

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

  This doctoral consortium paper presents early-stage research investigating how cultural differences affect accessible design practices, with a specific focus on Iranian designers. The author, Laleh Nourian at Rochester Institute of Technology, frames her work through the lens of…

  global accessibility · cultural accessibility · postcolonial computing · accessibility education · Global South accessibility

• A Workshop on Disability Inclusive Remote Co-Design

  Maryam Bandukda, Giulia Barbareschi, Aneesha Singh, Dhruv Jain, Maitraye Das, Tamanna Motahar, Jason Wiese, Lynn Cockburn, Amit Prakash, David Frohlich, Catherine Holloway · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 22)

  This workshop paper addresses how the COVID-19 pandemic forced accessibility researchers to adapt co-design methods from in-person to remote formats, and the unique challenges this created for research involving disabled and aging participants. While the shift to online…

  co-design · remote research · participatory design · disability inclusion · COVID-19

• The Future of Urban Accessibility for People with Disabilities: Data Collection, Analytics, Policy, and Tools

  Jon E. Froehlich, Yochai Eisenberg, Maryam Hosseini, Fabio Miranda, Marc Adams, Anat Caspi, Holger Dieterich, Heather Feldner, Aldo Gonzalez, Claudina de Gyves, Joy Hammel, Reuben Kirkham, Melanie Kneisel, Delphine Labbé, Steve J. Mooney, Victor Pineda, Cláudia Fonseca Pinhão, Ana Rodríguez, Manaswi Saha, Michael Saugstad, Judy Shanley, Ather Sharif, Qing Shen, Cláudio Silva, Maarten Sukel, Eric K. Tokuda, Sebastian Felix Zappe, Anna Zivarts · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 22)

  This workshop paper frames urban accessibility as a "wicked problem" spanning transportation, urban planning, disability studies, public health, and human geography, and assembles a remarkably diverse team of 28 co-organizers from six countries across academia, government, NGOs,…

  urban accessibility · built environment · pedestrian infrastructure · sidewalk accessibility · data collection

• CaseGuide: Making Cheap Smartphones Accessible to Individuals with Visual Impairments in Informal Settlements

  Roos van Greevenbroek · 2020 · Proceedings of the 22nd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2020)

  This short paper presents CaseGuide, a low-cost concept for making cheap smartphones accessible to individuals with visual impairments living in informal settlements (IVIIS). The majority of visually impaired people live in low-income areas where less than 5-15% can access…

  visual accessibility · mobile accessibility · global accessibility · Global South accessibility · assistive technology

• Behaviors, Problems and Strategies of Visually Impaired Persons During Meal Preparation in the Indian Context: Challenges and Opportunities for Design

  Avyay Ravi Kashyap · 2020 · Proceedings of the 22nd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2020)

  This short paper investigates how visually impaired people in India prepare meals, focusing specifically on cooking techniques that involve heat application — an area largely neglected in accessibility research. While preparatory tasks (cutting, peeling, soaking) are primarily…

  visual accessibility · blindness and low vision · independent living · cooking accessibility · daily living

• Designing Gesture-Based Applications for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities: Guidelines from User Studies in India

  Sumita Sharma, Blessin Varkey, Krishnaveni Achary, Jaakko Hakulinen, Markku Turunen, Tomi Heimonen, Saurabh Srivastava, Nitendra Rajput · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS)

  This paper presents the design, evaluation, and resulting guidelines from three gesture-based applications created for individuals with developmental disabilities in India, developed through a long-term collaboration with Tamana, an NGO and special education school in New Delhi.…

  developmental disabilities · gesture interaction · special education · inclusive design · Global South accessibility

• "Wow! You're Wearing a Fitbit, You're a Young Boy Now!": Socio-Technical Aspirations for Children with Autism in India

  Sumita Sharma, Krishnaveni Achary, Harmeet Kaur, Juhani Linna, Markku Turunen, Blessin Varkey, Jaakko Hakulinen, Sanidhya Daeeyya · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '18)

  This paper explores how socio-technical aspirations — the ambitions and desires of stakeholders to own or use technology for personal benefit or societal acceptance — influence technology adoption for children with autism in India. The research is based on two studies at a…

  autism · Global South accessibility · technology adoption · wearable technology · physical activity

• Identifying Challenges and Opportunities in Computer-Based Vocational Training for Low-Income Communities of People with Intellectual Disabilities

  Vagner Figueredo de Santana, Rodrigo Laiola Guimarães, Andrea Britto Mattos · 2016 · Proceedings of the 13th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper presents findings from a qualitative field study of computer-mediated vocational training for low-income students with intellectual disability (ID) at APAE DE SÃO PAULO, a Brazilian NGO that provides educational support, vocational training, and habilitation therapy.…

  intellectual disability · vocational training · digital inclusion · developing countries · educational technology

• LMS Weds WhatsApp: Bridging Digital Divide Using MIMs

  Jyotirmaya Mahapatra, Saurabh Srivastava, Kuldeep Yadav, Kundan Shrivastava, Om Deshmukh · 2016 · Proceedings of the 13th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper from Xerox Research Centre India reports on a three-month longitudinal field study integrating WhatsApp with a Learning Management System (TutorSpace) in a private engineering college on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India. The research addresses the digital divide in…

  digital divide · mobile accessibility · education accessibility · Global South accessibility · blended learning

• Kirana: A Gesture-based Market App for Life Skills Learning for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

  Sumita Sharma, Saurabh Srivastava, Krishnaveni Achary, Blessin Varkey, Tomi Heimonen, Jaakko Hakulinen, Markku Turunen, Nitendra Rajput · 2016 · Proceedings of the 18th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '16)

  This demonstration paper presents Kirana, a gesture-based application that simulates the experience of purchasing items at a local Indian grocery store ("kirana") for individuals with developmental disabilities. The application was developed in collaboration with special…

  developmental disability · gesture interaction · educational technology · cognitive accessibility · independent living

• Gesture-based Interaction for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities in India

  Sumita Sharma, Saurabh Srivastava, Krishnaveni Achary, Blessin Varkey, Tomi Heimonen, Jaakko Hakulinen, Markku Turunen, Nitendra Rajput · 2016 · Proceedings of the 18th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '16)

  This full paper presents the design, development, and evaluation of Kirana, a Kinect-based gesture application that simulates purchasing groceries from a local Indian kirana (grocery) store to teach life skills to individuals with developmental disabilities at the Nai Disha…

  developmental disability · gesture interaction · educational technology · cognitive accessibility · independent living

• Accessible 3D Signing Avatars: The Tunisian Experience

  Kabil Jaballah · 2012 · Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper reports on the WebSign project from the University of Tunis, a system that translates written text into sign language performed by 3D avatars, and addresses the broader challenge of making signing avatars accessible, indexable, and discoverable on the web. The author…

  sign language · deaf accessibility · avatar technology · virtual signing · education accessibility

• AccessibleNews DAISY: Newspapers in DAISY

  Gaurang Kanvinde, Saurabh Gupta · 2011 · Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper presents AccessibleNews DAISY, software developed by Accessible Systems in Mumbai, India, that automatically converts web-based newspaper and magazine content into DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) digital talking books. The authors identify that while the…

  DAISY · blind and low vision · assistive technology · news accessibility · digital talking books

• The Spoken Web Application Framework: User Generated Content and Service Creation through Low-End Mobiles

  Arun Kumar, Sheetal K. Agarwal, Priyanka Manwani · 2010 · Proceedings of the 2010 International Cross Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper from IBM Research India presents the Spoken Web Application Framework (SWAF), a platform that expands the definition of "Web" itself to include voice-based hyperlinked content accessible through ordinary telephone calls. At the time of publication, only 22% of the…

  digital divide · voice interface · developing regions · digital inclusion · mobile accessibility

• Exploring Web Accessibility Solutions in Developing Regions as Innovations for the Benefit of All

  Shadi Abou-Zahra, Shawn Lawton Henry · 2010 · Proceedings of the 2010 International Cross Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  Written by two leaders of the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, this paper explores the particular web accessibility challenges facing people with disabilities in developing regions and argues that solving these challenges will drive innovations benefiting all web users. The…

  Global South accessibility · digital divide · universal design · digital inclusion · multilingual accessibility

• A Web Design Framework for Improved Accessibility for People with Disabilities (WDFAD)

  Rehema Baguma, Jude T. Lubega · 2008 · Proceedings of the 2008 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper from Makerere University in Uganda proposes WDFAD (Web Design Framework for Improved Accessibility for People with Disabilities), a developer-oriented framework that repackages web accessibility requirements according to the three components of web applications:…

  web accessibility · accessibility framework · blind users · screen readers · web design