Awards
SIGACCESS Outstanding Contribution
The SIGACCESS Award for Outstanding Contributions to Computing and Accessibility recognizes individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the development of computing technologies that improve the accessibility of media and services to people with disabilities. Outstanding contributions through research, practice, or advocacy are recognized. Towards this goal, contributions are considered from academia, industry, as well as other professions that focus on computer users with disabilities and the application of computing technology to improve …
2021 Best Paper
How Online Tests Contribute to the Support System for People With Cognitive and Mental Disabilities Author(s) Qisheng Li, Josephine Lee, Christina Zhang, Katharina Reinecke Institutions: University of Washington Abstract: Roughly 1 in 3 people around the world are affected by cognitive or mental disabilities at some point in their lives, yet people often face a variety of barriers when seeking support and receiving diagnosis from healthcare professionals. While prior work found that people with such disabilities assess themselves …
2021 Best Student Paper
Aided Nonverbal Communication through Physical Expressive Objects Author(s) Stephanie Valencia, Mark Steidl, Michael Rivera, Cynthia Bennett, Jeffrey Bigham, Henny Admoni Intitutions: Carnegie Mellon University, Disability Rights Pennsylvania Abstract: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices enable speech-based communication, but generating speech is not the only resource needed to have a successful conversation. Being able to signal one wishes to take a turn by raising a hand or providing some other cue is critical in securing a turn to speak. Experienced conversation …
2020 Best Student Paper
Living Disability Theory: Reflections on Access, Research, and Design Author(s): Megan Hofmann, Devva Kasnitz, Jennifer Mankoff, Cynthia L Bennett Institution: Carnegie Mellon University, City University of New York, University of Washington Abstract: Accessibility research and disability studies are intertwined fields focused on, respectively, building a world more inclusive of people with disability and understanding and elevating the lived experiences of disabled people. Accessibility research tends to focus on creating technology related to impairment, while disability studies focuses on …
2020 Best Paper
Input Accessibility: A Large Dataset and Summary Analysis of Age, Motor Ability and Input Performance Authors(s): Leah Findlater, Lotus Zhang Institution: University of Washington Abstract: Age and motor ability are well-known to impact input performance. Past work examining these factors, however, has tended to focus on samples of 20-40 participants and has binned participants into a small set of age groups (e.g., “younger” vs. “older”). To foster a more nuanced understanding of how age and motor …
2021 SIGACCESS ASSETS Impact Award Winner
Disability studies as a source of critical inquiry for the field of assistive technology Author(s):Jennifer Mankoff, Gillian R. Hayes, and Devva Kasnitz. Description: In October 2010 at ASSETS, Jennifer Mankoff, Gillian R. Hayes, and Devva Kasnitz published this paper which was the first to identify and bridge the gap between the assistive technology research field and the field of critical disability studies. Bringing decades of critical thought in social and behavioral sciences to computer scientists, …
Jonathan Lazar: Outstanding Contribution Recipient 2020
In recognition of his life-long dedication to the goal of accessible technologies and digital content through his research, education, advocacy, policy and legal work.
2019 Best Student Paper
Deep Learning for Automatically Detecting Sidewalk Accessibility Problems Using Streetscape Imagery Author(s): Galen Weld, Esther Jang, Anthony Li, Aileen Zeng, Kurtis Heimerl and Jon E. Froehlich Institution: University of Washington and University of Maryland Abstract: Recent work has applied machine learning methods to automatically find and/or assess pedestrian infrastructure in online map imagery (e.g., satellite photos, streetscape panoramas). While promising, these methods have been limited by two interrelated issues: small training sets and the choice …
2019 Best Paper
Sign Language Recognition, Generation, and Translation: An Interdisciplinary Perspective Author(s): Danielle Bragg, Oscar Koller, Mary Bellard, Larwan Berke, Patrick Boudreault, Annelies Braffort, Naomi Caselli, Matt Huenerfauth, Hernisa Kacorri, Tessa Verhoef, Christian Vogler and Meredith Morris Institution: Microsoft Research, Microsoft, Rochester Institute of Technology, Gallaudet University, Paris-Saclay University, Orsay, Boston University, University of Maryland, Leiden University. Abstract: Developing successful sign language recognition, generation, and translation systems requires expertise in a wide range of fields, including computer …
2019 SIGACCESS ASSETS Paper Impact Award winner
Slide rule: making mobile touch screens accessible to blind people using multi-touch interaction techniques. Author(s): Shaun K. Kane, Jeffrey P. Bigham, and Jacob O. Wobbrock. Description: In October 2008 at ASSETS, Shaun Kane, Jeff Bigham, and Jacob Wobbrock described their work on an experimental screen reader system called Slide Rule. The paper took a risk, studying a technology, touchscreen devices, that seemed inherently inaccessible to blind users and demonstrated convincingly that they could be made …