Accessibility Commons^™

Harmonicthreads: A Formative Evaluation Of A Fabric-Based Digital Musical Instrument Toward Inclusive Music-Making, Ellie Nguyen, Franceli L. Cibrian

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Background:

Inclusive music-making requires instruments that support varied bodies, abilities, musical backgrounds, and forms of participation. Digital musical instruments provide diverse approaches to sound creation, and fabric-based interfaces offer an alternative interaction modality that may support participation for some users and contexts. Their tactile and deformable properties enable forms of interaction that differ from conventional rigid or screen-based controllers and may offer inclusive possibilities in particular settings.

Objective:

This paper presents HarmonicThreads as a formative interaction-design case of a fabric-based digital musical instrument. The prototype explores how tactile cues, fabric deformation, projected visual feedback, and assisted accompaniment can support low-barrier …

Accessible Media Literacy Education: A Universal Design For Learning Framework For Including Disabled And Deaf Learners, Author Information Removed

JMLE Submissions Open for Review

Media literacy education has built a robust evidence base for interventions that strengthen resilience to misinformation, yet its pedagogies presuppose a nondisabled learner: participants with disabilities are rarely reported, materials are rarely accessible by design, and disability is absent from the field's equity turn. Disabled and deaf learners consequently face a double exclusion, from the media environment by inaccessibility and from media education by protectionist safeguarding. This conceptual article develops the Accessible Media Literacy Education (AMLE) framework through a four-step synthesis of three literatures: media literacy education, research on disabled and deaf people's media practices, and Universal Design for Learning. …

Differentiating And Accommodating Ocd And Anxiety In Mathematical Contexts, Madeline F. Gavares

Interdivisional Studies Summer Fellows

Students in mathematics classrooms may experience emotional and cognitive challenges that affect how they engage with coursework and assessments. While math anxiety has been widely documented, less attention has been given to how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), particularly checking behaviors, may influence students’ experiences in math settings. This study explores how students who report math anxiety and those who report OCD symptoms describe their engagement with math tasks and test-taking. Drawing on survey and interview data from students and teachers, this study examines how these experiences are articulated and perceived in academic math contexts, rather than evaluating ability or outcomes. By …

Moving Inclusive Design From Theory To Practice: A Reflective Teaching Approach Using Empathy-Based Accessibility Activities, Adriana Del Monaco-Shepherd

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This reflective teaching practice explores the use of empathy-based learning activities to support UX Design students in developing a deeper understanding of accessibility and inclusive design.

While accessibility principles and standards were introduced within the curriculum, I observed that students often understood accessibility as a set of requirements rather than a human-centred design responsibility. Their design outcomes demonstrated strong visual creativity but sometimes overlooked important accessibility considerations such as colour contrast, content hierarchy, navigation clarity, and inclusive communication.

To address this gap, I designed two short experiential activities that encouraged students to experience accessibility barriers firsthand. The first activity used …

Accessibility On Campus: Ruane Ll05, A. Gross, S. Peifly, S. Gallagher, K. O'Neil

Education Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Developing Narrative-Based Stem Learning Tool For K-6 Visually Impaired Students, Daniel Tsivkovski, Dylan Ravel, Jeffrey Kraskouskas, Brandon Foley, Maryam Etezad, Franceli Cibrian, Rajeev Joshi, Ariel Han

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This research develops a free, accessible web application that enables K-6 students who are blind or visually impaired (BVI) to learn STEM concepts using refreshable braille displays. Currently, most online learning tools are not designed for BVI students, creating a significant educational barrier.

The application interfaces with commercial braille displays and uses narrative-based learning to make STEM content approachable and engaging. By presenting material as personalized interactive stories generated with the help of Artificial Intellligence (AI), students can connect with concepts while developing braille reading skills. The curriculum design prioritizes accessibility through the Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) standards and …

Gospel Reception And Response In Children With Profound Cognitive Disabilities, Reagan Lewis

Senior Honors Theses

This study attempts to build a bridge over a gap in research regarding how to observe children with profound cognitive disabilities’ understanding of the gospel, also incorporating information about ministry structure, caregiver responsibility, and methods for presenting the gospel. This qualitative study was interview-based: four ministry leaders representing three disability ministries were interviewed, and then a focus group was conducted to discuss further. Field observations also took place at each ministry site. Key findings included importance of flexibility in ministry environments, shared spiritual responsibility of caregivers and ministry leaders, necessity of repetition and concrete examples in gospel presentation, emphasis on …

Reimagining Access In Slavin Dunkin, M. Gardner, L. Pastore

Education Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Access For All: Student Insights Into Cvs Accessibility, Gabriella Huizenga

Education Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Transforming Education With Ai, Kenna C. Lorenzini

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common in college classrooms, especially when students are completing papers and assignments. This project explores how college students can use AI responsibly while still learning and developing their own ideas. The goal of this project is to compare the perspectives of both professors and students in order to better understand how AI can support learning while still maintaining academic honesty. This research highlights the importance of clear expectations, responsible use of technology, and open conversations between students and educators about AI in academic work.

How To Finalize Pdfs To Correspond To American Disabilities Act (Ada) Tagging: The Basics, Kimberly Holling

ScholarWorks Publications

This document is a basic step-by-step outline for tagging a PDF file in accordance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).  ADA tagging allows a digital document to work well with screen readers in order to assist those with visual impairments to more fully engage with a document's content.  This is not a comprehensive guide, as it will not cover forms or complex tables.  This specific workflow shows how to use Adobe Acrobat Pro to work with, finalize, and verify accessibility in PDFs created from simple Word documents.  Such documents should already use Word heading and list features and very simple …

From Silos To Systems: A Conceptual Framework For Workforce Aligned Oral Health Education, Meghan Bastin

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

In the current U.S. educational system, becoming a dentist follows a few prescriptive pathways.  Learners typically complete an undergraduate degree before entering time-intensive doctoral training.  This results in only 3-4 years of direct professional education embedded within an eight -year process, while learners accumulate significant financial investment in their education.  With the average cost of graduate-level dental education alone exceeding $300,000 and new federal borrowing limits likely to further constrain access, there is an opportunity to explore alternative ways of structuring oral health education.

This poster presents a conceptual, system-level framework that explores a perspective in which oral health education …

Ai In Pk-12 Education: Implications For Teaching And Learning, David Naff, Meleah Ellison, Casey Bailey, Tzu-Wei Wang, Kiana Bradford

MERC Publications

This research and policy review from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) explores the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for teaching and learning in public PK-12 education. It is part of a two part series with a companion report focused on AI implications for PK-12 policy. The report explores two questions:

1. How is AI shaping teaching and instructional practice?
2. How is AI shaping student learning and development?

It concludes with a series of key takeaways and recommendations for PK-12 policy and practice.

Accessibility Analysis Of Academic Library Epubs - Spreadsheets 1 To 3, Adina Mulliken

Publications and Research

These spreadsheets are associated with the article "Accessibility Analysis of Academic Library EPUBs" in Library Resources & Technical Services.

Libraries Accessibility Plan 2025-2027

Accessibility Committee

Two-year plan providing a roadmap for committee projects and goals. Authored in 2025 by the University Libraries Accessibility Committee as an internal document.

Developing Accessible Narrative-Based Stem Learning Software For K-6 Braille Display Users, Dylan Ravel, Daniel Tsivkovski, Brandon Foley, Maryam Etezad, Franceli Cibrian, Ariel Han, Rajeev Joshi

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This research develops a free, accessible web application that enables K-6 students who are blind or visually impaired (BVI) to learn STEM concepts using refreshable braille displays. Currently, most online learning tools are not designed for BVI students, creating a significant educational barrier.

The application interfaces with commercial braille displays and uses narrative-based learning to make STEM content approachable and engaging. By presenting material as interactive stories, students can connect with concepts while developing braille reading skills. The curriculum design prioritizes accessibility through the Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) standards and screen reader support.

The goal is to provide BVI …

Teachers Of Students With Visual Impairments (Tsvis) Assistive Technology (At) Competencies: An Update Study, Benjamin Kendall Lytle

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Assistive technology (AT) is essential for supporting access, independence, and learning among students with visual impairments. Teachers of students with visual impairments (TSVIs) are expected to integrate AT into instruction and ensure their students are prepared for academic, social, and workforce demands. The original list of 111 AT competencies for preservice TSVIs, developed by Smith et al. (2009), provided an important foundation but has not been revised despite significant technological advances over the past decade. Outdated competencies risk limiting teacher preparation programs and leaving educators underprepared to address the realities of today’s classrooms. A revised and streamlined competency framework is …

Adapting Research Ethics For All: Training Centers For Independent Living In Community-Based Research, Rtc: Rural, Will Hoard, Krys Standley, Catherine Ipsen

Education

The Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural) adapted Research Ethics for All (RE4ALL)—an accessible, participatory training co-created with people with disabilities—to equip Centers for Independent Living (CIL) staff with tailored human subjects research ethics education. Traditional institutional trainings (e.g., CITI) posed barriers for CIL community partners, who needed practical, role-specific guidance for their work on the Rural Health Pathways Program, a study comparing delivery models of a health intervention. The adapted 90-minute RE4ALL session preserved core accessibility features (plain language, visual aids) while addressing CIL staff’s real-world scenarios, such as consent processes …

Adaptive Art Teaching Strategies: Empowering Students And Paraprofessionals In The Inclusive Art Classroom, Kameran Dostal

Art 895 Research Papers

In the art room, differentiation for students with exceptional disabilities presents unique challenges. Some art educators teach in self-contained settings (e.g. adaptive art classes), other art educators teach in inclusive art room settings (where students with disabilities are integrated into the art room), and others teach a combination of both. The research on adaptive art programs and adaptive teaching practices has the potential to impact students with disabilities as a piece of advocacy to showcase the impact of the visual arts on their IEP goals and fine motor skills. The intention is that this research re-examines best practices in teaching …

Development Of Interactive Games On An Affordable Braille Display, Daniel Tsivkovski, Dylan Ravel, Maryam Etezad

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Developing an affordable and STEM learning-focused Braille display addresses a significant disparity in the market for Braille displays, where most fail to provide a cost-effective, accessible, and education-oriented solution. This research aims to bridge this gap through innovative hardware and software development, offering a comprehensive learning experience to elementary school children (K-6) who are blind/visually impaired. The hardware features a piezo-electric tactile display that displays up to six Braille characters at once or a shape in an 8x8 pin array configuration. The educational software includes a user-friendly website packed with engaging STEM activities specifically designed for blind/visually impaired children. The …

Harnessing Neurodiversity And Artificial Intelligence In Education To Bridge The Cybersecurity Workforce Gap, George Antoniou

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

This perspective paper examines how neurodiversity and artificial intelligence (AI) can jointly address the critical workforce shortage in cybersecurity. Drawing on peer-reviewed research, industry reports, and case studies, it explores how neurodivergent individuals—such as those with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and dyslexia—possess strengths in pattern recognition, logical reasoning, and attention to detail that align with cybersecurity demands. AI-based educational tools, including adaptive tutoring systems, scenario-based simulations, and real-time analytics, can personalize learning for neurodiverse students, enhancing engagement and skill mastery. The paper discusses how these targeted interventions not only accelerate knowledge retention and practical competence but also foster greater inclusion …

Access To Augustana’S Ascension Chapel: Who Gets To Worship?, Jaycee C. Bythewood

Race, Ethnicity, & Religion

This poster seeks to educate readers about the challenges disabled students would face in attending a service in Augustana College’s Ascension Chapel and how inaccessible this actually is using maps crafted by the author with hand-gathered data.

“Like A Fish Being Judged By My Ability To Fly”: Barriers To Accessibility In Postgraduate Study, Molly E. Thompson

Publications and Research

This research paper explores the unique accessibility challenges faced by disabled postgraduate students and what can be done to address them. Testimonies and formal studies alike show how disabled graduate students have to deal with stigmatizing attitudes from their instructors (especially if they hold intersectional marginalized identities) on top of systemic barriers such as strict deadlines, unsustainably heavy workloads, inaccessible travel requirements, and disability services that are not suited to undergraduate needs. These problems are especially prominent in medical school where demands on time and energy are especially rigorous. To address these issues, disability service programs must be reformed to …

Optimizing Sensory Processing: General Education Classroom Strategies, Elizabeth Lowry

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

Introduction

In the general education setting, teachers often feel unequipped to address sensory processing deficits. There is little research in the general education setting within this area, but implementing sensory strategies can be beneficial for all students. The purpose of this capstone project is to support sensory processing behaviors within the elementary education setting.

Methods

General education classroom teachers/staff within Pembroke Elementary School (Public Schools of Robeson County, North Carolina) participated in an educational in-service that took place in February 2025. During this time, an 11-field RedCap survey was developed and a pre-survey/post-survey was provided to the participants to gauge …

El Deafo Bibliotherapy, David S. Wolff

OER Materials

The goal of this assignment was for preservice teachers to practice writing a chain of questions that focused on the social and/or emotional needs of young learners. Bibliotherapy is therapeutic in nature to help individuals understand themselves and the world around them through guided reading experiences (American Library Association, 2025; Delisle & Galbraith, 2002). Further, bibliotherapy allow individuals to identify a personal problem mirrored by a character in a book. As the reader connects with the character, the reader experiences the emotions expressed by the character. Finally, the reader applies the character’s experience to their own personal problem (American Library …

Accessibility Disclosure Statements: Best Practices For Documenting Inclusive And Accessible Web-Based Research Design, Alicia Mason, Elizabeth Spencer, Pan Liu, Kristen Livingston, Sakshi Bhati, Angela Ashmore, Tristan A. Spencer, Lauren Shepard

Faculty Submissions

Accessibility disclosure is a core principle of the Project IRIS Best Practice Framework. This instructional resource-- Accessibility Disclosure Statements: Best Practices for Documenting Inclusive Web-Based Research Design-introduces options for reporting accessible web-based research design efforts in scholarly and professional publications. The three forms of accessibility disclosure statements are introduced: summary statements, reports of analysis--both general and specific-, and detailed process descriptions. Each of these strategies including terms, conceptual definitions, and examples are provided. The instructional resource may be of interest to undergraduate and graduate course instructors teaching research methods courses in a variety of social science disciplines.

Using Ai To Make Accessible Accessible Content, Melinda Turner

Faculty Other Scholarly Works

This professional development session will explore how to leverage AI tools, specifically Google’s NotebookLM, to create accessible learning materials for college students. Participants will learn how to use NotebookLM to transform existing content into more accessible formats. The session will cover practical strategies for implementing AI to improve readability and comprehension for all learners including students with disabilities, non-native English speakers, and students with varying learning preferences. We will discuss how to create transcripts for audio/video files and ensure content is well-organized and easy to navigate. This session will also highlight the importance of evidence-based practices in content creation and …

20250127: Help Program, 1981-2015, Academic Affairs

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials Marshall University's H.E.L.P. Center from 1981-2015. Items were received in 2025. This collection contains materials connected to Marshall University’s H.E.L.P. Program and, more broadly speaking, Marshall University. The collection includes photographs, video tapes, newspapers, news clippings, newsletters, internal documents, books/booklets, correspondence, training materials, and other memorabilia. The collection is presently organized into one series of four boxes:

• Box 1: Dr. Barbara Guyer, Photographs, Publications, Correspondence, Medical H.E.L.P., Articles, and News clippings
• Box 2: Newspapers, News clippings, Newsletters, Photographs, Photo-slides, and Plaque
• Box 3: Materials Related to Myers Hall and Construction/Expansion of H.E.L.P. Building
• Box 4: Video …

Navigating The Academic Terrain: Examining The Challenges And Success Factors Of Student Veterans In Higher Education Institutions, Katherine Reyes, Corey Idleburg

Education Division Scholarship

This study investigates the academic experiences of student veterans, addressing specific challenges they face in higher education. Using Schlossberg’s adult transition theory, it explores the effects of invisible barriers, enrollment trends, and institutional factors on veteran student success, leveraging the VA’s GI Bill Comparison tool to examine public versus private school support. Findings underscore the need for targeted resources, faculty training, and institutional awareness to foster a supportive and inclusive environment that enhances veteran students' academic success and sense of belonging.

The Unsurprising Lack Of Deia In Nasa’S Pathways Program Hiring Patterns, Shelita Augustus, Tiasia Saunders

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Working for NASA, a symbol of exploration and scientific advancement, is a dream for many, sparking aspirations of becoming an astronaut and contributing to humanity's understanding of the unknown universe. However, the path to a NASA career is often filled with unfair challenges and barriers, particularly for talented individuals from underrepresented groups who have no control over systemic bias. NASA's Pathways Program is an entry point for undergraduate and graduate students seeking opportunities within the agency with a highly competitive hiring rate of only 1.4% between the fiscal years (FY) of 2021 to 2024. While NASA publicly affirmed its commitment …