Collaborative research: innovative materials for promoting accessibility curriculum and teaching

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded the University of Illinois $357,108 on October 15, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to develop and disseminate innovative accessibility curriculum and teaching resources for undergraduate computing education.

The project will create empirically informed instructional resources, including updated accessibility games emphasizing universal design, lecture notes, and interactive assignments, alongside evidence-based guidance for teaching accessibility in computing. The award funds research into how experiential learning opportunities affect student motivation, accessibility awareness, and intentions to design accessible software, as well as investigation into challenges facing both instructors and students in accessibility education. Deliverables include a community of practice providing professional development, networking, guest speakers, and resource sharing for faculty teaching accessibility, plus open educational materials for broader adoption.

Performance occurs in Urbana, Illinois through September 30, 2029. This is a Level 2 Engaged Student Learning project within NSF's IUSE program, supporting research and development to improve undergraduate STEM education effectiveness and innovation.

Abstract

This project aims to serve the national interest by improving accessibility education in undergraduate computing and building a community of practice to support instructors. As software increasingly shapes participation in education, employment, and healthcare, digital accessibility has become an important computing competency. This creates opportunities to further integrate accessibility concepts and practices into undergraduate computing curricula. This level 2 engaged student learning project seeks to advance accessibility education in undergraduate computing through research, evidence-based instructional innovation, and faculty support. IT plans to investigate how experiential learning opportunities can motivate students, increase accessibility awareness, and foster intentions to design accessible software in the future. Expected outcomes include empirically informed instructional resources, evidence-based guidance for teaching accessibility in undergraduate computing, and broader dissemination and adoption of these resources through a community of practice and open educational materials. The goals of this project are to (a) advance the understanding of the challenges that instructors face both before and after teaching about accessibility; (b) investigate the challenges that students face when learning about accessibility; (c) expand, improve, and rigorously evaluate a set of accessibility resources, including updated accessibility games with a stronger focus on universal design, along with lecture notes and interactive assignments; and (d) create supportive structures, professional development opportunities, and an online community of practice for instructors who teach accessibility that will provide guidance, networking opportunities, guest speakers, and resource sharing. The NSF iuse: EDU program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of stem education for all students. Through the engaged student learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools. 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.- subawards are not planned for this award.