In this study, we examine preschool storybook apps to identify the types of characters represented in these stories and how they relate to design quality and opportunities for children to build their vocabularies -- a significant predictor of later success in learning to read. Specifically, we sought to understand (a) how storybook apps portray…

Purpose: This study examines the web accessibility issues faced by users with disabilities when using ChatGPT, a popular chatbot. It is crucial for users with disabilities to have barrier-free access to Internet communications technology to be on par with other users. Because of its roots in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, ChatGPT can…

By law, colleges and universities must provide people with disabilities with access to their digital activities, services, and programs. The problem is that when software development teams build digital educational products and services that support higher education institutions inaccessibly, they may exclude students with certain types of…

In 2015, National Industries for the Blind (NIB) identified a source of difficulty in finding well-qualified applicants who are visually impaired (i.e., those who are blind or have low vision) for employment in services positions. People who are visually impaired develop technology skills sufficient to perform the functions they need in daily…

People with disabilities rely on a range of accessible technologies to interface with the digital world. However, their needs are often not considered when developing applications in introductory computer sciences courses. These courses traditionally focus on teaching technical skills that do not include those for designing and developing…

Academic libraries invest thousands of dollars in assistive technologies (AT) for enhancing the delivery of information services to disabled patrons. However, offering AT might not result in their use by the patrons who need them, thereby leading to a service divide. The analysis of qualitative responses, including more than 1,400 quotations,…

The world has seen growth in the availability of mobile devices, and the use of these devices is gradually being implemented in the post-secondary environment. Unfortunately, although there is a growing body of data on the use of mobile devices by post-secondary students in general, there is little information available on the ownership and use of…

Introduction: Accessibility of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems was tested with a hands-on usability study and an online survey of VoIP users who are visually impaired. The survey examined the importance of common VoIP features, and both methods assessed difficulty in using those features. Methods: The usability test included four paid…

Authenticating the students' identity and authenticity of their work is increasingly important to reduce academic malpractices and for quality assurance purposes in Education. There is a growing body of research about technological innovations to combat cheating and plagiarism. However, the literature is very limited on the impact of…

The founding goal of using standards within acquisition of distributed learning content and technology is to reduce cost in both current and future acquisitions and collaborative efforts across organizations. This document explores existing successful acquisitions and supplies that language as well as successful ways to implement best practices of…

Increasingly, people are engaging online and can participate in activities like searching for information, communicating with family and friends, and self-expression. However, some populations such as older adults, face barriers to online participation like device cost, access, and learnability, which prevent them from reaping the benefits of…

Neuro-marketing, neuro-economics, and now the field of neuro-information systems (neuro-IS) is growing, and our students want to know more about it all. This paper presents the examination of the learning-needs of new entrants to the field of neuro-IS. The resulting elective course is targeted at IS undergraduate majors interested in learning…

Social media can contribute to an inclusive society, but they are also asymmetrical and polarised communication spaces. This requires competent teachers to build critical digital citizenship. The aim of this article is twofold: to present web scraping and text analytics as tools that define teachers' digital competences, and to investigate which…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the readability of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B procedural safeguard documents, as distributed by each of the 50 U.S. states. Results were compared to the 5th- to 6th-grade readability guideline for documents recommended by experts in health literacy and health…

Purpose: In response to the underexplored need for holistically inclusive makerspaces for learning, we put propose the "SCAFFOLD" framework, which considers equity, inclusion and accessibility in the design of spaces and activities for socioculturally diverse learners. Design/methodology/approach: This paper proposes a universal design…