AccessCSforAll: Making High School Computer Science Accessible

Funding Announcement Date: November 2, 2021

Project Duration: Three more years (continuing project)

A researcher-practitioner partnership (RPP) focused on making high school computer science accessible to students with disabilities. The project targets teachers in mainstream schools where the vast majority of students with disabilities attend.

Geographic Scope

• National initiative
• Led by University of Washington

Focus Areas

• Accessibility of CS education for students with disabilities
• Tool and curriculum development - Creating new accessible tools and curricula adoptable by various partners and curriculum providers
• Curriculum provider support - Helping providers improve accessibility of their tools and curricula
• Dissemination of strategies - Collaborating with organizations supporting K-12 CS teachers and pre-service programs
• Community building - Expanding partnerships with accessible tool and curriculum developers
• Professional support - Offering individual support to CS teachers regarding students with disabilities

Project Goals

1. Develop new accessible tools and curricula for adoption by diverse partners and curriculum providers
2. Help curriculum providers improve the accessibility of their tools and curricula
3. Collaborate with organizations that support K-12 CS teachers and pre-service CS education programs to disseminate strategies for including students with disabilities
4. Expand partnerships with developers of accessible tools and curricula to foster an accessibility-focused community
5. Continue as national resource for disability-related resources for CS teachers
6. Provide individual support to CS teachers needing advice about students with disabilities in their classes

Target Audience

• K-12 computer science teachers
• Pre-service CS education program leaders
• CS curriculum providers
• In-service and pre-service teacher education providers
• Organizations that support K-12 CS teachers
• Students with disabilities in mainstream school settings

Project Partners

• CS curriculum providers
• In-service and pre-service teacher education providers
• Organizations supporting K-12 CS teachers
• Accessible tool and curriculum developers
• University of Washington (lead institution)

Contact

• For pre-service program leaders: accesscsforall@uw.edu
• For CS teachers with student disability questions: accesscsforall@uw.edu
• General inquiries: accesscsforall@uw.edu