Icebreakers into Accessibility

Handouts

Presented at 9:15am in Gov Square 10 on Thursday, November 18, 2021.

#34516

Speaker(s)

  • Elizabeth Codick, Graduate Student, Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Elissa Weeden, Associate Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology

Session Details

  • Length of Session: 1-hr
  • Format: Interactive/Discussion
  • Expertise Level: All Levels
  • Type of session: General Conference

Summary

This interactive session will have the audience perform an ice breaker that can raise awareness around accessibility and the design of accessible interactions. After the icebreakers are completed the group will come back together, share their thoughts about the experience, and the presenter will give a rationale of the activities.

Abstract

It is important to know and understand that other people view and experience the world differently, and what may be easy to one person could be difficult or even impossible for another. We all have different perspectives, different abilities, and different approaches on completing daily tasks, but what happens when one’s senses and/or abilities are shifted? Through the interactive icebreaker participants will leave with an activity that they could use in a group setting to discuss and increase awareness around accessibility and how to create accessible interactions.

The icebreakers will focus on the lack of accessibility in the digital environment, and the impacts they have on the excluded users. During this session our activities will focus on addressing the lack of captioning and alternative text.

Keypoints

  1. Experiencing accessibility challenges can increase sensitivity and influence future interactions with others.
  2. Analyzing an activity that was designed to promote accessibility and inclusion can offer insight.
  3. Learn about easy changes for creating and designing an accessible and inclusive environment for all members.

Disability Areas

All Areas

Topic Areas

Accessible Educational Materials, Alternate Format, Captioning/Transcription, Teaching about Accessibility in Curriculum, Uncategorized, Web/Media/App Access

Speaker Bio(s)

Elizabeth Codick

Elizabeth Codick currently majors at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Human-Computer Interaction, with the focus on assistive technologies. Her focus is on creating accessible and inclusive technologies and settings. She is currently working on five completely different research studies, all of which are related to accessibility. Her hopes are to get into a PhD program after completing her master's degree, furthering her education in accessible research.

Elissa Weeden

Dr. Elissa Weeden is a faculty member in the School of Information at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She has designed and taught several courses focused on Accessibility including Design for Accessibility, Access and Assistive Technology, and Research in Accessibility. She continually strives to create accessible and inclusive learning environments for her students. She has a Ph.D. and an Ed.S. in Computing Technology in Education from Nova Southeastern University, as well as a MS in Software Development and Management from RIT and a BS in Information Technology from RIT.

Handout(s)