Switches, Screen Readers and Voice Control: Accessible Computer Science with Blocks4All

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

accessibility & UDL

Format:

demonstration

Subject Level:

beginner

Age Span:

preschool
kindergarten - grade 6
grades 7-12

Target Audience:

AT specialist

family member / caregiver

special educator
speech language pathologist
teacher of the visually impaired
university professor / personnel

Professional Development Credits

IACET CEUs:

.01 CEU

ACVREP CEs:

1 CE

Presentation Length: 1 hour

Location:

Atrium 2

Description:

With the rise of technology in our society, computer science and programming skills are becoming important skills for everyone to learn. Programming is also a fun way to exercise creativity to use programming to control robots, create games and problem solve. And, if you pick the right tools, programming can be made accessible for anyone. In this session, we will discuss the programming environments that work well with assistive technology (and those that do not) and provide resources for finding accessible applications and curriculum for K-12 students with a wide range of disabilities. We will present the work we have done in developing Blocks4All, an accessible programming environment, and we will demo it on the iPad with VoiceOver, Switch Control and Voice Control.

Learning Outcomes:

As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Describe why learning computer science and programming is important for students with disabilities.

• Identify three accessible programming environments that work with assistive technology such as screen readers, switches and speech input.

• Create simple programs in the Blocks4All programming environment to make a robot move and talk.