Accessibility and Inclusive Design - College of Information (INFO)

Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Pioneering information technologies and solutions that are accessible and usable for people of all abilities.

Research Projects

Postdoctoral Fellowship: STEMEdIPRF: SAGE4ICE: Student Analogy Generation Empowerment for Computing Education
Principal Investigator(s):
Funder: National Science Foundation
Research Areas: Accessibility and Inclusive Design > Data Science, Analytics, and Visualization > Future of Work > Human-Computer Interaction > Youth Experience, Learning, and Digital Practices
This project develops classroom activities, digital scaffolding tools, and an online library to guide students in creating effective analogies for learning computing concepts. By improving comprehension and persistence in introductory courses, the project aims to broaden participation and strengthen the pipeline of future computing professionals.
P3 (Pregnancy and Postpartum/Preconception) EQUATE (Enhancing Access and Quality to Achieve Equitable Maternal and Infant Health) Network
Principal Investigator(s): Jasmine Garland McKinney
Funder: American Heart Association Other Non-Federal
Research Areas: Accessibility and Inclusive Design > Data Science, Analytics, and Visualization > Health Informatics > Information Justice, Human Rights, and Technology Ethics
This project validates the Prepartum Form for Evaluating Race-Related Psychological Stressors (PP-FERRPS)©, a screening tool designed to measure how race-related stressors affect Black perinatal women’s mental health. By refining this tool, the study aims to address gaps in traditional assessments and improve clinical support in maternal care.
CAREER: Self-Directed Human-LLM Coordination for Language Learning and Information Seeking
Principal Investigator(s): Ge Gao
Funder: National Science Foundation
Research Areas: Accessibility and Inclusive Design > Health Informatics > Human-Computer Interaction > Information Justice, Human Rights, and Technology Ethics > Machine Learning, AI, Computational Linguistics, and Information Retrieval > Youth Experience, Learning, and Digital Practices
This project uses AI-powered digital tutors to help individuals with limited majority-language proficiency improve their language skills for real-world information seeking. By enabling users to design personalized tutoring systems, the study advances language learning, AI literacy, and human-computer interaction.

Recent News

A person demonstrates an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) app on a tablet while two others observe, one smiling and wearing a red shirt with a name tag. The interaction appears to take place at a research or technology event.

INFO Assistant Professor Stephanie Valencia² demos her team's work. Photo via Spoken app.

The AI That Tells a Joke With You

New research explores how AI can help speech-generating device users reclaim timely, humorous comments —without losing their own voic …
School student with VR headset using AI artificial intelligence technology & machine learning.Interactive technology in classroom. Innovation & smart tech. AI blue hologram in education.

Photo licensed by Adobe Stock via DEIB Visuals

WTOP News: Smarter Classrooms, Real Results: How AI is Rewriting the Rules of Education (ft. Charles Harry)

INFO's Charles Harry explores how AI transforms education, enhancing learning, student support, and ethical classroom practices