AT Trial

Last revised date: 12/9/2025

Overview

The goal of this assignment is to give you experience with using common accessibility technologies to access common technology products. Try out two accessibility technologies on technology of interest.

Required Competencies

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

Assignment Details

Table of Contents

  1. Assignment Requirements
    1. 1. Select two accessibility technologies and try out their tutorials
    2. 2. Select one example of an interesting technology domain
    3. 3. Try it out
    4. 4. Write a reflection
    5. 5. Write a plain language paragraph
  2. Assessment & Handin Process

Assignment Requirements

To complete this assignment, please do the following

1. Select two accessibility technologies and try out their tutorials

When selecting accessibility technology, ensure that

  • The technologies you choose are user agents meaning they are intermediaries between a disabled user and some website, app or other technology. For example, a screen reader is a user agent, because it works with any accessibly designed website, or app.
  • One should be a screen reader (there are many that are freely available). The other should be substantially different, i.e. address different accessibility needs. For example, if you ask to be evaluated VoiceOver, and then NVDA, those would be too similar.
  • Once you select the user agents, you should find first person accounts of someone using both and watch it.
  • In addition, you should get familiar with how to use the technology yourself.

Most free screen readers come with tutorials that you should complete before using the screen reader to test accessibility of a document. Here is a great overview of web accessibility testing with screen readers. Here is a quick guide to screen reader commands

Some examples of a second user agent that you could choose

  • The free magnifier on your primary computer and/or on your phone
  • Changing color and/or contrast in your operating system or web browser
  • Using the single switch input method on your phone

Here are some resources that may help you in gaining comfort with these accessibility solutions.

2. Select one example of an interesting technology domain

Pick an interesting website or app to test with your accessibility solution. Possible technologies:

3. Try it out

Download at least one working (ideally accessible) example technology from your topic domain. For example, you could download an accessible game, or get an account with a 3D modeling tool like TinkerCAD.

  • Try using your selected website, app, or game with both of your accessibility technologies.
  • In each case, record a video showing what happened when you did this.

4. Write a reflection

Write a reflection with 1 paragraph each explaining

  • what the general class of technology is (e.g. what VR/AR is)
  • what accessibility challenges exist with that class of technology
  • which example you downloaded
  • what you learned trying it with your screen reader
  • what you learned trying it with the other AT you pick.ed

5. Write a plain language paragraph

Write a plain language version of the first paragraph only of your reflection.

Assessment & Handin Process

The handin is broken up by competency

Plain Language (rubric)

  • Original text (unsimplified)
  • Simplified text
  • A list of the guidelines you wish to be assessed on, and an example of something you changed to meet each of them. You need at least five to be assessed as "excellent"

AT Familiarity (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.

Finding First Person Accounts (rubric)

  • A link to the first person account
  • A reflection answering the following questions
    • What first person account did you find and does it meet the requirements for a first person account described above
    • What are the barriers and opportunities the person described?
    • What technology did they describe using?
    • How might what you learned extend beyond this specific person, disability and/or technology?
    • A list of additional resources 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.

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