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• Understanding Strategies and Challenges of Conducting Daily Data Analysis (DDA) Among Blind and Low-vision People

  Chutian Jiang, Wentao Lei, Emily Kuang, Teng Han, Mingming Fan · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This paper investigates how blind and low-vision (BLV) people perform what the authors term Daily Data Analysis (DDA) — the common, everyday tasks of analyzing and deriving insights from data such as splitting expenses, computing stock portfolio changes, and calculating…

  blind and low vision · data accessibility · screen readers · spreadsheets · data analysis

• Understanding Peer-to-Peer Instructional Support in an Online Community for Blind Audio Producers

  Abir Saha, Darren Gergle, Anne Marie Piper · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This paper examines how blind and low-vision audio producers seek and provide instructional support through an online text-based Q&A mailing list community centered around using Logic Pro, a professional digital audio workstation (DAW), with the VoiceOver screen reader. The…

  screen readers · blind and low vision · audio production · peer support · online communities

• Towards Real-Time Measurements of Internet Health: Optimizing Large-Scale Web Accessibility Evaluations

  Luís P. Carvalho, Tiago Guerreiro, Shaun Lawson, Kyle Montague · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This paper investigates how to optimize page sampling strategies for large-scale web accessibility evaluations, aiming to make near real-time measurements of Internet Health feasible. Current large-scale accessibility studies are financially and time exhaustive, typically…

  web accessibility · large-scale evaluation · automated testing · internet health · WCAG

• Complex Dynamics: Disability, Assistive Technology, and the LGBTQIA+ Community Center Experience in the United States

  Kirk Andrew Crawford, Katta Spiel, Foad Hamidi · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This paper explores the experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals with disabilities in community centers in the United States, focusing on the role of assistive technology (AT) in these spaces. The researchers conducted 11 semi-structured interviews (60-90 minutes each, conducted…

  assistive technology · intersectionality · LGBTQIA+ · disability identity · stigma

• "You Can't Possibly Have ADHD": Exploring Validation and Tensions around Diagnosis within Unbounded ADHD Social Media Communities

  Tessa Eagle, Kathryn E. Ringland · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This paper examines how ADHD communities on social media platforms — TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram — function as informal health communities that provide information, validation, and support to individuals at various stages of discovering and navigating ADHD diagnosis. The…

  ADHD · neurodivergence · social media · online health communities · digital mental health

• Playing with Feeling: Exploring Vibrotactile Feedback and Aesthetic Experiences for Developing Haptic Wearables for Blind and Low Vision Music Learning

  Leon Lu, Jin Kang, Chase Crispin, Audrey Girouard · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This paper explores how musical haptic wearables (MHWs) using vibrotactile feedback can support music learning for blind and low-vision (BLV) people, and investigates the role of material aesthetics in shaping the user experience of such devices. The researchers conducted five…

  blind and low vision · assistive technology · haptic feedback · vibrotactile · music learning

• 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

• "I just thought it was me": How Smartphones Fail Users with Mild-to-Moderate Dexterity Differences

  Molly Bowman, Jerry Robinson, Erin Buehler, Shaun Kane · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This paper examines the smartphone experiences of people with mild-to-moderate dexterity (MMD) challenges — a population largely overlooked by accessibility research that tends to focus on more severe motor disabilities requiring specialized assistive technology like switches.…

  motor disability · dexterity · mobile accessibility · smartphones · touch screen

• 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

• Supporting Social Inclusion with DIY-ATs: Perspectives of Kenyan Caregivers of Children with Cognitive Disabilities

  Foad Hamidi, Patrick Mbullo, Michaela Hynie, Melanie Baljko · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper examines how DIY assistive technologies (DIY-ATs) can support social inclusion for children with cognitive disabilities in Western Kenya, drawing on interviews with 12 female primary caregivers. The research is part of a multi-year participatory design project…

  DIY assistive technology · cognitive disabilities · AAC · social inclusion · low- and middle-income countries

• "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

• The Accessibility of Data Visualizations on the Web for Screen Reader Users: Practices and Experiences During COVID-19

  Danyang Fan, Alexa Fay Siu, Hrishikesh Rao, Gene Sung-Ho Kim, Xavier Vazquez, Lucy Greco, Sile O'Modhrain, Sean Follmer · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This comprehensive mixed-methods study examines data visualization accessibility through three complementary investigations: an accessibility audit of 87 COVID-19 visualizations, an online survey of 127 screen reader users, and contextual inquiry with 12 participants. The…

  data visualization · screen readers · visual impairment · web accessibility · accessibility audit

• Digital Musical Instruments in Special Educational Needs Schools: Requirements from the Music Teachers' Perspective and the Status Quo in Germany

  Andreas Förster, Steffen Lepa · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study presents the first comprehensive survey of digital musical instrument (DMI) use in special educational needs (SEN) schools, covering 745 schools across 12 of Germany's 16 federal states with a 41.5% response rate. The researchers surveyed 750 music teachers to…

  digital musical instruments · music education · special education · cognitive disabilities · music accessibility

• Creating 'a Simple Conversation': Designing a Conversational User Interface to Improve the Experience of Accessing Support for Study

  Francisco Iniesto, Tim Coughlan, Kate Lister, Peter Devine, Nick Freear, Richard Greenwood, Wayne Holmes, Ian Kenny, Kevin McLeod, Ruth Tudor · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents the ADMINS (Assistants for the Disclosure and Management of Information about Needs and Support) project, which developed a virtual assistant named "Taylor" to help students disclose disabilities and arrange support at The Open University (UK). The OU…

  conversational user interface · chatbot · virtual assistant · disability disclosure · higher education

• The Design and Prototyping of an App to Teach Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Empower Them Against Abuse

  Krishna Venkatasubramanian, Tina-Marie Ranalli, Jack Lanoie, Alexander Sinapi, Andrew Laraw Lama, Jeanine Skorinko, Mariah Freark, Nancy Alterio · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents the design and prototyping of "Recognize," a mobile app that empowers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to independently learn about abuse. The work addresses a critical problem: people with I/DD are sexually assaulted seven times…

  intellectual disability · developmental disability · abuse prevention · self-advocacy · co-design

• Machine Generation of Audio Description for Blind and Visually Impaired People

  Virgínia P. Campos, Tiago M. U. de Araújo, Guido L. de Souza Filho, Luiz M. G. Gonçalves · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents an extension to CineAD, a system for automatically generating audio descriptions (AD) for videos. The authors address a critical accessibility gap: most videos, films, and cultural programming lack audio descriptions, leaving blind and visually impaired (BVI)…

  audio description · blind and visually impaired · computer vision · machine learning · video accessibility

• Guidelines for Designing Social Networking Sites for Older Adults: A Systematic Review with Thematic Synthesis

  Amira Ghenai, Philips Ayeni, Jing Yu, Robin Cohen, Karyn Moffatt · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This systematic review synthesizes design recommendations for social networking sites (SNS) targeting older adults, addressing a critical gap: despite being the fastest-growing demographic on platforms like Facebook, older adults face numerous barriers to adoption and use. The…

  older adults · social networking · social media · systematic review · design guidelines

• Performance and Pleasure: Exploring the Perceived Usefulness and Appeal of Physical Activity Data Visualizations with Older Adults

  Dimitri Vargemidis, Kathrin Gerling, Vero Vanden Abeele, Luc Geurts · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This mixed-methods study examines how older adults perceive and value different approaches to visualizing physical activity (PA) data from wearable activity trackers. The researchers combined semi-structured interviews (N=17) and an online survey (N=27) with 44 older adults…

  older adults · physical activity · data visualization · wearable technology · activity trackers

• 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

• How the Alt Text Gets Made: What Roles and Processes of Alt Text Creation Can Teach Us About Inclusive Imagery

  Emory James Edwards, Kyle Lewis Polster, Isabel Tuason, Emily Blank, Michael Gilbert, Stacy Branham · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper investigates how alternative text is created in industry settings through a collaboration between UC Irvine researchers and Google's Avatar Project, an initiative to create inclusive stickers depicting people with disabilities. The research combines two studies: focus…

  alt text · image accessibility · inclusive imagery · disability representation · organizational practices

• AccessComics2: Understanding the User Experience of an Accessible Comic Book Reader for Blind People with Textual Sound Effects

  Yun Jung Lee, Hwayeon Joh, Suhyeon Yoo, Uran Oh · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This research investigates how to make digital comic books accessible to people with visual impairments through AccessComics, a web-based comic reader that provides scene descriptions, synthesized character voices, and sound effects. The study addresses a gap in accessibility…

  comics · audiobooks · eBooks · screen readers · blind users

• Mathematical Content Browsing for Print-disabled Readers Based on Virtual-world Exploration and Audio-visual Sensory Substitution

  Rynhardt Kruger, Febe De Wet, Thomas Niesler · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This research addresses a critical accessibility gap: mathematical equations in PDF documents are largely inaccessible to blind and visually impaired readers. While standards like MathML exist for encoding accessible mathematics, most scientific and technical papers are…

  mathematical accessibility · sensory substitution · PDF accessibility · blind users · sonification

• Tangible Progress: Tools, Techniques, and Impacts of Teaching Web Development to Screen Reader Users

  Claire Ferrari, Devorah Kletenik, Kate Sonka, Amy Hurst · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents the design, implementation, and longitudinal evaluation of a free, remote web development workshop specifically designed for screen reader users. The nine-week workshop, delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, taught HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to 12 blind…

  web development education · screen readers · tactile diagrams · blind users · service learning

• The Transparency of Automatic Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools: Design Criteria, State of the Art, and User Perception

  Marco Manca, Vanessa Palumbo, Fabio Paternò, Carmen Santoro · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper investigates a critical but often overlooked problem in web accessibility practice: the lack of transparency in automated accessibility evaluation tools. While these tools are widely used to identify WCAG violations, users frequently struggle to understand why…

  automated testing · accessibility evaluation tools · WAVE · axe · Lighthouse

• Video Conferencing Tools: Comparative Study of the Experiences of Screen Reader Users and the Development of More Inclusive Design Guidelines

  Barbara Leporini, Marina Buzzi, Marion Hersh · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This comprehensive study investigates the accessibility and usability of three major video conferencing platforms—Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams—for blind and visually impaired people using screen readers. Conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic when video conferencing…

  video conferencing · screen readers · blind users · Zoom · Microsoft Teams