Research Experience for Undergraduates in Digital Accessibility

这笔资金在密歇根大学弗林特大学建立了一个新的本科生研究体验(REU)网站，专注于数字无障碍。与非残疾人相比，残疾人完成学士学位的可能性要小得多。研究生学位对这一群体尤其重要，因为受教育程度越高，残疾人的失业率就会显著下降。然而，残疾学生为研究生学习做准备的机会很少。这个本科生研究体验网站将为残疾和非残疾学生提供参与数字无障碍研究的新机会。拟议的研究将弥合数字鸿沟，确保具有不同能力的个人能够利用技术的进步，导致一个更具包容性和公平的数字社会。网站内的拟议研究项目将开发新的知识、方法和框架，以构建下一代包容性软件，并评估残疾人在使用技术时所面临的挑战。这个网站将建立在许多导师的经验的基础上，这些导师在他们的个人研究中与本科生合作，涵盖了三个主题：(1)包容性软件需求工程和设计，(2)包容性软件开发，和(3)包容性软件测试和维护。拟议的活动将包括了解研究文献、制定和完善相关的研究问题、进行实证研究以及设计新的方法和原型。学生通过这些项目参与关键问题的解决和多学科研究，这些项目结合了计算机科学、软件工程、人机交互、健康和相关学科的原理。学生将能够扩大他们对以用户为中心的设计的理解，以及发展公平数字体验的重要性。除了进行研究，学生还将参与其他专业发展活动，如实地考察、专业研讨会、特邀演讲者系列、职业指导和研究生院准备。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This funding establishes a new Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site at the University of Michigan Flint focused on digital accessibility. People with a disability are much less likely to have completed a bachelor's degree than people without a disability. Graduate degrees are particularly important for this demographic because the unemployment rate for people with disabilities drops significantly with higher levels of education. However, few opportunities exist for students with disabilities to prepare for graduate studies. This undergraduate research experience site will enable new opportunities for students with and without disabilities to be involved in digital accessibility research. The proposed research will bridge the digital divide, ensuring that individuals with diverse abilities can leverage the advancements in technology, leading to a more inclusive and equitable digital society.The proposed research projects within the site will develop new knowledge, methods, and frameworks to build the next generation of inclusive software and assess the challenges that people with disabilities experience when using technology. This site will build on the experience of many mentors who have worked with undergraduate students in their individual research to cover three themes: (1) Inclusive Software Requirements Engineering and Design, (2) Inclusive Software Development, and (3) Inclusive Software Testing and Maintenance. The proposed activities will include understanding the research literature, formulating and refining relevant research questions, performing empirical studies and designing novel approaches and prototypes. Students engage in critical problem-solving and multidisciplinary research through these projects, which incorporate principles from computer science, software engineering, human-computer interaction, health and related disciplines. Students will be able to broaden their understanding of user-centered design and the significance of developing equitable digital experiences. In addition to conducting research, the students will participate in other professional development activities, such as field trips, professional seminars, invited speaker series, career guidance, and graduate school preparation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.