Equal Access to Computing

Terrill ThompsonTami Tidwell Tean Tarihugh

University of WashingtonThese slides: http://staff.washington.edu/tft

UW Collaboration

UW CSE (Computer Science & Engineering)

DO-IT Center (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking & Technology)

Funded by National Science Foundation

To broaden participation of people with disabilities in computing careers

Our partners and collaborators agree

• People with disabilities can bring a fresh perspective to the field

• Diversity is good for innovation

The Problem

• Students with disabilities are more likely to go to 2 year institutions instead of 4 year institutions.

• Students with disabilities tend to drop out of computing majors more than other students.

• Very few students with disabilities go on for advanced degrees in computing.

Why? There are Barriers• Diminished support systems after high school• Little access to successful role models• Lack of access to technology that can increase

independence, productivity, & participation• Inadequate self-advocacy skills• Inadequate accommodations• Low expectations & other negative attitudes

on the part of people with whom they interact

- National Organization on Disabilities

One Solution: Universal Design

“the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”

The Center for Universal Designhttp://www.ncsu.edu/ncsu/design/cud/about_ud/udprinciples.htm

Design computing departments so each student:

• Feels welcome• Can get to facilities and maneuver within them• Is able to fully benefit from resources and

courses• Can make use of equipment and software

Applying UD to Computing Departments

• Planning, Policies, and Evaluation• Facility and Physical environment• Support services• Information resources• Computing courses and faculty• Computers, software, and assistive technology

Evidence-Based Practices• Technology access• Hands-on activities• Self-determination skill-building• College/career prep. activities• Bridges between academic levels & careers• Work-based experiences, including research• Peer, near-peer, mentor support• Tutoring• Preparing educators, employers• Combinations are most effective!

A Few Examples

Example #1: Universal Design & Video

Captions => Video search

Example from MIT OpenCourseware: http://interactive.3playmedia.com/mitocw/

Captions => Automatic Translation

Example is from youtube.com

Captions => Interactive transcripts

Captions => Research Opportunities

Example is from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/

Universal Design => Bigger Audience

Universal Design => Success

• Crowdsourced captions using Amara.org• Crowdsourced subtitles in 20 languages • 11.5 million views on YouTube (#1 in March '13)

http://youtu.be/nKIu9yen5nc• Recently described for blind students

http://youtu.be/nKIu9yen5nc• Three described versions, 3-4,000 views each on

YouTube

Universal Media Player (UMP)

Example 2: Integrating Universal Design into Curriculum

http://uw.edu/accesscomputing/webd2

WebD2 Features• Teaches standards-based & accessible web design

• Is platform and vendor-neutral (teaches concepts,

not specific tools)• Standards-based, accessible design is taught early

as a core design principle, and reinforced throughout the course

• For assignments students must use valid code & conform to accessibility standards

• Is FREE! • Includes extensive support for teachers, many of

whom are themselves learning

Not Just a Curriculum, A Community

• Nearly 4000 registered teachers worldwide • Discussion list with 372 subscribers• Teachers provide peer support:

– Help with coding problems– Sharing resources– Discussing teaching strategies

Countries with 10 or more teachers

Teaching the World (Countries with one or more teachers)

Our Stuff Is Online

• These slideshttp://staff.washington.edu/tft

• Equal Access: Universal Design of Computing Departments (handout) http://tinyurl.com/accesscomputing

• AccessComputing websitehttp://uw.edu/accesscomputing

• Accessible Technology @ The UW http://uw.edu/accessibility