AccessComputing maintains a Knowledge Base of hundreds of articles that address disability-related issues. This Knowledge Base is continually growing to include answers to common questions (Q&A), Case Studies, and Promising Practices regarding accessibility of technology, college, graduate school, and computing careers for individuals with disabilities.
Burgstahler, S., & Ladner, R. (2006). Increasing the participation of people with disabilities in computing fields: From research to practice. Seattle: University of Washington.
By Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph. D.
Richard Ladner, Ph. D.
University of Washington
In the classroom or the workplace, most groups are diverse. We vary in background, cultural and gender identity, first language, and age. We have different learning styles, including visual and auditory. Some of us have disabilities, including blindness, low vision, hearing impairments, mobility impairments, learning disabilities, and health impairments.
How can educators design instruction to maximize the learning of all students? How can employers create environments to maximize productivity of all employees? By using universal design.
The best accommodations are unique to the individual and develop from a cooperative relationship between instructor and student, sometimes with the assistance of special education teachers or postsecondary campus disabled student services offices. AccessComputing provides tools and resources for assessing the accessibility of your lab or department and developing accommodation strategies.
Accommodating students with disabilities in computing is a shared responsibility. Faculty, students, and disability services staff must work together to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities who request support. Coordinated efforts and support from departmental, administrative, facilities, and other student service personnel can also enhance the overall accessibility of the postsecondary learning environment for students with disabilities.
AccessComputing and its partners apply evidence-based practices, using lessons learned from earlier projects to ensure continual improvement. We encourage further exploration and replication of these and other practices that show promise for increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities in computing fields.
