Research topic analysis and summary

Last revised date: 9/22/2025

Overview

Review a research topic using disability models and summarize a paper in plain language

Competencies

When you turn in this homework, also turn in these competencies Optionally, you may want to turn in these competences as well:

Table of Contents

  1. Assignment Requirements
    1. 1. Select one example of second wave technology and read about it
    2. 2. Analyze your topic
    3. 3. Write a plain language summary
    4. 4. Find some free, accessible examples
    5. 5. See how accessible they are with accessibility Technology
  2. Assessment & Handin Process

Assignment Requirements

To complete this assignment, please do the following

1. Select one example of second wave technology and read about it

Once you select that technology, you should pick one paper to read deeply. The details of what you read may vary with the topic you pick ad you can check with the instructors if you are unsure.

Possible technologies:

2. Analyze your topic

Analyze your topic using the approach described in the disability model analysis competency. To do so you will need to pick a theoretical framework, such as

3. Write a plain language summary

Write a plain language summary of the contents of your selected research paper’s abstract.

4. Find some free, accessible examples

Using the resources provided for your topic, and anything else relevant you can find on your own, identify a freely available examples of accessible versions of the technology you picked. Download it and try it out.

5. See how accessible they are with accessibility Technology

Next, you should try it out using two different accessibility technologies (such as a screen reader an zoom). Try using them with a screen reader and one other accessibility technology

Assessment & Handin Process

The handin is broken up by competency

Plain Language

  • 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"

Disability Model Analysis

  • Specify the model you are using to analyze
    • Name one principal you drew from it. How does the subject fail or succeed to meet that?
    • Name one principal you drew from it. How does the subject fail or succeed to meet that?
    • Name one principal you drew from it. How does the subject fail or succeed to meet that?
  • Address the three additional points
    • Is it ableist?
    • Is it informed by disabled perspectives or is it a disability dongle?
    • Does it oversimplify?

AT Familiarity

  • For each AT you used, turn in a reflection telling us about the AT you used. The reflection should include
    • Information about how the 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.

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

  • Your writeup (Microsoft word) or PowerPoint
  • 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

Finding First Person Accounts

  • 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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