CREATE has received a five-year, $4.6 million grant for research and development projects about GAI and people with disabilities. Funded through NIDILRR’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) awards, CREATE’s RERC will pursue six projects that take up these broad questions: What risks do recent developments in generative artificial intelligence (GAI) pose for people with disabilities? And what opportunities might they offer for improving accessibility and thus supporting community living and participation for people with disabilities? You can read more about each of the six projects below.
Projects
On-demand GAI text simplification
PROJECT 1
An AI-based browser tool that will provide on-demand, simplified text for legal, health, and emergency response texts critical to community living and participation. Users will be able to request a side-by-side comparison of the original text and the simplified text. The simplified text will include links that connect back to the specific statements in the original text.
Learn about the GAI text simplification project
Slideshow Creation Tool for Blind/Low Vision Users
PROJECT 2
A set of GAI-supported tools intended to let blind and low vision (BVI) people fully participate in slideshow creation. Using a mobile touchscreen application and a Google Chrome browser extension, users will create content, design Google Slides, and receive feedback through touch, gestures, audio, speech, and keyboard input.
Learn about Slideshow Creation Tool for BVI users
Accessible, Computer-Aided Device Design
PROJECT 3
Technology to make it easy to design customized assistive devices for a user and their functional needs. How it works: A user scans the surface of an object or a body part using a mobile phone. Through a short text-based conversation, the user describes how the device should be mounted or attached to the scanned surface, then chooses from a set of functional devices. A number of 3D printable models will be proposed, with a feedback process to provide further input on design and functionality. A key feature is that clients with motor disabilities can participate in the design and specify further customizations.
Learn about Accessible, Computer-Aided Device Design
A11yhood.org Access Technology Repository
PROJECT 4
A web platform and archive designed to increase access to and use of a wide variety of open-source accessibility tools. Users may be people with disabilities, technologists, clinicians, or developers. On the platform, they will be able to share objects, devices, and digital accessibility technologies. Each tool will include tutorials, commentary, and reviews.
Learn about A11yhood.org Access Technology Repository
GAI Use Over Time
PROJECT 5
A longitudinal study of how people with disabilities use GAI that will also develop guidelines for using GAI as safely and effectively as possible to meet the needs of people with disabilities and diverse racial and cultural backgrounds.
Learn about the GAI Use Over Time project
Bias in AI-Enhanced Hiring Systems
PROJECT 6
An exploration of bias in AI-enhanced hiring systems will test interactions among race, gender, and disability and the efficacy of bias mitigation methods in a randomized control simulation trial. To support a range of user decisions regarding disclosure, we will design an intervention tool that can estimate bias and suggest modifications to jobseeker materials. A longitudinal field study will measures real-world impacts on disabled job seekers to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention tool.
Learn about the Bias in AI-Enhanced Hiring Systems project
People
Jennifer Mankoff, University of Washington, PI, Center Director
Mark Harniss, University of Washington, Co-I, Director of Training
Jacob O. Wobbrock, University of Washington, Project Lead
Anat Caspi, University of Washington, Project Lead
Olivia Banner, University of Washington, Director of Operations and Project Lead
Kathleen Quin Voss, University of Washington, Community Engagement and Partnerships
Manager
Liz Diether-Martin, University of Washington, Digital Content Developer
News and announcements
11:52 pm
September 10, 2024 What risks do recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and generative artificial intelligence (GAI) pose for people with disabilities? And what opportunities might they offer for improving accessibility? For some time now, CREATE researchers have been exploring these pressing questions. We are excited to announce that CREATE has been awarded a five-year,…
Read more
Related research
CREATE researchers recognize the need to thoughtfully explore AI’s implications for people with disabilities (PWD). Without leadership in this area, we risk PWD being left behind in the use of AI and the accessibility of its products, and subject to AI biases.
Learn about CREATE research that addresses these opportunities and risks
The contents of the CREATE RERC web pages were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90REGE0026-01-00) funding the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of the CREATE RERC web pages do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.