Implementation

Last revised date: March 24, 2024

Overview

The goal of this homework is to make something more accessible. Specifically, you should create a more accessible version of a thing (website, visualization, user interface, AR/VR, etc) that you’ve already made.

Required Competencies

When you turn in this homework, also turn in these competencies

Optional Competencies

Optionally, you may want to turn in these competences as well:

Assignment Details

Assignment Requirements

1. Select a specific interface or web app that you will make more accessible

You should identify a technology you have implemented for general use (i.e. not an accessibility technology). Ideally this should be an interactive technology (some kind of user interface, app, etc). If you have no such thing, you can ask to approve using a website or other static content that you have generated as an alternative. Possible examples:

  • A class assignment from 340
  • Your personal website
  • An interface wrapped around some machine learning program
  • A visualization
  • A password or CAPTCHA interface
  • VR/AR: A game or game control interface.

2. Select two accessibility technologies and test your app with them

Be clear about which accessibility aid (such a screen reader, magnifier or single switch input) or which perceptual concern (such as color blindness) your modifications will be addressing.

Be clear about what task your are testing.

Test out your app with each accessibility aid and identify any problems with completing that task.

Record at least two problems per AT, covering at least two different areas of POUR, in a problem report, similar to the website assessment.

3. Fix at least two problems

Once you have identified problems, it is time to fix them. The expectations here will depend partly on the details of the task you select, but your fixes need to include at least two different areas of POUR (i.e. address issues with both perceivability and operability) or otherwise demonstrate that you have not done something overly simple.

Assessment & Handin Process

You will turn in:

  • A before and after video showing what it was like to use your thing with your selected accessibility technology before and after you addressed the accessibility issues. The format of this video is flexible, but should take no more than 3-5 minutes. You can also choose to do a live demo of your before & after in office hours.

  • An accessible 1 page document stating

    • Describe the website or app and task you picked (include pictures)
    • What you had to do to make it more accessible
    • What are three things you learned from doing this?

The remainder of this handin is broken up by competency

Accessibility Assesssment (rubric)

  • At least six UARS (two each from automated testing and your two different ATs).
  • A link to the app or website your were testing if it is publicly available; and the names of the automated tool and ATs you used
  • Explain how your UARs cover at least two areas of POUR

Familiarity with a Range of Accessibility Technologies (rubric)

  • Information about how each AT works, users, and strengths and weaknesses of the AT.
  • Information about what disabilities can benefit from it. For example, screen readers are not just used by blind people.
  • Any sources you used to answer these questions (first person accounts, research papers, etc). If you use Generative AI, you still need to check and cite relevant references.

Disability Model Analysis (rubric)

  • Define and explain two disability justice principles. For each, explain how the subject fails or succeeds to meet that?
  • Address the three additional points
    • Is it ableist?
    • Is it informed by disabled perspectives?
    • Does it oversimplify disability/identity?

Optional Information to hand in

In addition, you may choose to hand in the following optional information. Please ask the instructors if you're unsure what additional work or materials might be needed to complete these.

Accessible Documents (rubric)

  • Your writeup (Microsoft word) or PowerPoint. Note: do not submit a PDF. We expect your submission to be a Word or Google Doc.
  • A list of images and the ALT text you wrote for each of them
  • Which best practices are demonstrated in this document or PowerPoint
  • A screen shot showing the accessibility checker results for your document or PowerPoint

(rubric)

  • Tell us which video you want to be assessed (from the class videos including discussion leads; and AT around us presentations)
  • Timestamps for places in the video where any of the following best practices are demonstrated.
    • Introduce and describe yourself
    • Verbally describe images and videos so that someone who cannot see the screen can understand them
    • Repeat questions for clarity and member checking (even if on zoom)
  • Note that your presentation must have positive examples of at least seven of the ten best practices to be assessed as excellent on this competency.

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