Braille Reader Characteristics: Keys to Tech & Media Access

Date & Time

Thursday, March 16, 2023 - 10:20 AM PST  

Location

Grand JK  

Description

What do tech developers and accessible media creators need to know about braille readers to make their products accessible? Our session reviews current literature on braille literacy with technology, accessibility, and advocacy in mind. Through a systematic literature review of published claims about numbers of braille readers in the U.S. (Sheffield et al., 2022), we documented the current lack of reliable methods to determine – or even define – braille literacy rates. Our investigation covered a century of publications, and we continue this line of inquiry by looking more closely at the motivations and questions through which researchers have sought to better understand the population of braille readers. People who use technology to access braille and who use braille to access technology have diverse preferences, needs, experiences, and skills. How do developers of technology, producers of accessible media, and advocates for braille provision go beyond asking “Do you read braille?” in order provide real access to education, employment, and community? We will share our research along with the first-hand experiences of braille readers, opening a discussion of what else needs to be asked and learned to provide effective, inclusive tech and media.

This Presentation Link is provided by the Presenter(s) and not hosted by the Center on Disabilities at CSUN. The Center on Disabilities has confirmed, as of April 10 2023, content linked is relevant to the presentation, but has not been reviewed for accessibility nor will the Center on Disabilities attempt to remediate any accessibility issues in the linked content. Please contact the Presenter(s) with any accessibility concerns.

 

Audience

• Information & Communications Technology
• Media & Publishing
• Research & Development
• Employment & Human Resources

Audience Level

Intermediate  

Session Summary (Abstract)

Are you building tech for people with visual impairments? Our session looks at the average braille reader and considers characteristics that may help tech developers make more inclusive, more accessible products for braille readers.  

Primary Topic

Digital Accessibility  

Secondary Topics

• Blind/Low Vision
• Design
• Development
• Research

 

Session Type

General Track  

Presenters

• Sarah Chatfield
  SBES, Inc.
• Rebecca Sheffield
  U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

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