May 18, 2026
A project led by CREATE and Allen School postdoctoral researcher Jazette Johnson and CREATE Director Jennifer Mankoff (PI) has been awarded funding for community-based research with people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
This research focuses on designing accessible and trustworthy AI-enabled health technologies for adults with IDD. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in healthcare systems, people with IDD risk being excluded from tools intended to support health management and independence. Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, Johnson and Mankoff partner with community organizations to examine how adults with IDD understand, interact with, and experience AI in health contexts. Through interviews and co-design sessions, their work aims to identify access barriers and develop inclusive AI interfaces, educational materials, and design guidelines that promote autonomy, meaningful participation in healthcare, and improved health outcomes.
The grant comes from the UW’s Community-Engaged Computing Initiative (CECI), a joint initiative to support projects that bring UW researchers together with community partners. The initiative seeks to bring sustainable, equitable, and inclusive technology into real-world contexts.community-centered scholarship and research within the broad computing and information field.
Co-lead by the (Allen School), HCDE, and the iSchool, the initiative was launched in 2025 through a gift from Google.
