#43438
Speaker(s)
- Bethany Johnson, Vice President, Programs, American Foundation for the Blind
- Dauad Yasar, AFB Intern, American Foundation for the Blind
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: Beginner
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
Students from AFB’s Digital Accessibility Internship will share their process evaluating website and document accessibility for users who are blind or low vision. Using a recent project students will share implications for higher education and employment and will introduce strategies and best practices for integrating universal design and digital accessibility practices.
Abstract
Digital accessibility remains a persistent challenge, with most websites, apps, and digital documents creating significant barriers to access in essential areas like health care, education, employment, and independence.
The American Foundation for the Blind’s Digital Accessibility Bootcamp is a three-month summer program for current undergraduate and graduate students in computer science, UX design, and related technical fields. The program provides foundational knowledge and hands-on training from digital inclusion experts in building inclusive, user-centric digital products. Students master assistive technology like screen readers, develop skills to identify and correct common accessibility and usability issues, and benefit from a unique cohort model where blind/low-vision students work alongside their sighted peers.
As part of the Bootcamp, students collaborate with a business partner on a project; in the summer of 2026, this involved assessing a healthcare business's website and workflow, specifically focusing on how patients who are blind or low vision access information, the patient portal, and related services. This extensive project revealed significant barriers to navigation and exposed a widening gap between technical accessibility (as defined by WCAG) and the site's functional usability for a blind or low-vision user.
This usability gap is directly mirrored by the challenges experienced by college students, where the inaccessibility of materials like assignment documents, quizzes, readings, and portals creates a required “energy tax” for blind or low vision students in higher education.
In this workshop, these college students will share their evaluation process, present the results of their healthcare project, and discuss the implications for the higher education context. Attendees will engage in a discussion covering accessibility, usability, universal design, and an analysis of the pros and cons of emerging AI products.
Keypoints
- The usability gap creates an 'energy tax' for blind or low vision students.
- Accessibility does not guarantee usability.
- Accessibility and usability gaps persist in essential places like health care and education.
Disability Areas
Vision
Topic Areas
Accessible Course Design, Assistive Technology, Uncategorized, Web/Media/App Access
Speaker Bio(s)
Bethany Johnson
Bethany Johnson is the Vice President of Programs at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), where she leads initiatives focused on creating equal opportunities and expanding possibilities for the blind and low vision community. Her work centers on driving systemic change through leadership development, digital accessibility, and strategic partnerships that empower individuals to affect change within their professional spheres. Bethany has over 25 years of experience in program development and management, including more than two decades with AmeriCorps. Prior to her current role, she was the Virtual Program Director at the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia. Bethany holds a master’s degree in adult education.
Dauad Yasar
For two years after high school, Dauad Yasar served as an AmeriCorps member and mentor providing virtual work readiness and accessible tech training to high school students throughout Pennsylvania who are blind or low vision. As an AmeriCorps member, he was motivated by a passion for providing others with the knowledge of accessibility that he had acquired. Dauad has person and professional experience with accessible technology, including an internship at the Blind Institute of Technology where he tested and wrote reports on websites following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). He frequently assisted peers with troubleshooting screen readers and questions regarding accessibility across various platforms. In the summer of 2026, Dauad enrolled in the American Foundation for the Blind's Digital Accessibility Bootcamp, a three-month summer program focused on digital inclusion, assistive technology, and usability analysis. He joined the program to gain meaningful connections and further develop his skills in creating inclusive digital environments. Dauad is a graduate of Overbrook School for the Blind. He is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science and is a student at the University of Pittsburgh.