SoCS Computationally Speaking Seminar Series: A born-accessible model (BAM) of software and digital content development

Speaker: Dr. Jonathan Lazar

Abstract: Digital technologies and content are often designed without considering the needs of people with disabilities. This means that people with disabilities may be excluded from education, employment, healthcare, and commerce which often require the use of digital technologies and content which are not accessible. If people with disabilities notify the developers or owners, or in some cases take legal action, those digital technologies and/or content are then sometimes retrofitted to become accessible. However, retrofitting for accessibility is problematic for a number of reasons.
This presentation will focus on the born-accessible model of software and digital content development, where accessibility is considered as a primary design goal from the start, people with disabilities are included from the start, and nothing is released that is inaccessible. The born-accessible model has been theorized to have at least three benefits: 1) When technology is built from scratch to be accessible, people with disabilities receive access to the technologies or content at the same time as everyone else, 2) When using the born-accessible model, building for accessibility is inexpensive, and 3) Technologies and content that are born-accessible are inherently flexible and innovative, and are more usable by everyone. This presentation will describe the concepts of the born-accessible model, present examples of the born-accessible model, and describe a framework for future research into the born-accessible model."

Students, Faculty, and Staff are encouraged to attend!