BPC-AE: AccessComputing

The goals of AccessComputingWorkforce are to educate the next generation of computing innovators about accessibility and to make computing education itself accessible. Accessible computing technology benefits a wider range of users and offers economic advantages. Most U.S. computing curricula lack accessibility training, which creates a skills gap between industry needs and the workforce. The absence of accessibility in computing education further detracts from workforce potential by limiting who can succeed in the field and restricting student exposure to advanced computing tools and technologies. Expanding accessibility training helps close the skill and knowledge gap in the computing workforce, which in turn ensures all Americans can benefit from new computing technologies. Making computing education accessible also enables more Americans to enter the computing workforce prepared to meet industry needs. AccessComputingWorkforce is a national resource available to students, educators, and organizations across the U.S., and it promotes the long-term impact of its efforts through the creation of durable resources that are available to anyone. This project engages students, educators, and organizations across the nation to develop accessibility-focused courses, modules, and innovative teaching practices, as well as techniques and best practices for making computing courses accessible. The project fosters a community of computing students to develop their interest, skills, and knowledge in accessibility, and to provide learning opportunities and mentorship in preparation for accessibility-focused careers and research. Additionally, the project partners with computing organizations to promote the inclusion of accessibility in curricula; work with industry to understand skill gaps and inform curriculum development; and collaborate with companies and open-source communities to ensure educational and research tools are accessible. We also work with partners to conduct research, disseminate findings and resources through papers and publications tailored for different stakeholders, and share knowledge with relevant communities. 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.