Introducing Accessibility for Blind Users to Sighted Computer Science Students - The Aesthetics of Tools, Pursuits, and Characters

Răzvan Rughiniș, Cosima Rughiniș

2014

Abstract

We analyze current approaches in motivating students to pursue accessibility, with a focus on blind users, by examining scientific reports of courses in the computer science and engineering curriculum. We identify three main motivational resorts: a ‘web of arguments’, referring to issues of morality, legality, and interest; the practice of mainstreaming, which normalizes accessibility, and empathy. We argue that an aesthetic frame could contribute to a forceful, persistent motivation, and we propose an aesthetic motivational repertoire, on three dimensions: aesthetic value of technological tools, of engineers’ own work, and of their direct and indirect relationships with blind persons. We present arguments, practices, and online resources to support teachers that introduce accessibility for blind users to sighted students.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Rughiniș R. and Rughiniș C. (2014). Introducing Accessibility for Blind Users to Sighted Computer Science Students - The Aesthetics of Tools, Pursuits, and Characters . In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 3: CSEDU, ISBN 978-989-758-022-2, pages 21-29. DOI: 10.5220/0004834700210029

in Bibtex Style

@conference{csedu14,
author={Răzvan Rughiniș and Cosima Rughiniș},
title={Introducing Accessibility for Blind Users to Sighted Computer Science Students - The Aesthetics of Tools, Pursuits, and Characters},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 3: CSEDU,},
year={2014},
pages={21-29},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0004834700210029},
isbn={978-989-758-022-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 3: CSEDU,
TI - Introducing Accessibility for Blind Users to Sighted Computer Science Students - The Aesthetics of Tools, Pursuits, and Characters
SN - 978-989-758-022-2
AU - Rughiniș R.
AU - Rughiniș C.
PY - 2014
SP - 21
EP - 29
DO - 10.5220/0004834700210029