CREATE is developing a proof-of-concept accessible text simplification tool in the form of an AI-based browser tool. The tool would provide on-demand GAI text simplification 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.
People with disabilities will be able to simplify text when and how they need it, rather than relying on content producers to provide it.
End users
This product will address a diverse group of people, including d/Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) people and those with cognitive disabilities, such as:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
- Learning disabilities affecting reading
- Intermittent brain fog due to chronic conditions
Product/output
We seek to build an AI-based browser prototype that will:
- Let a user enter text to be simplified, upload a document, or provide a URL
- Display the simplified text
- Optionally, display the key facts from the original and simplified text side-by-side to help the user gain confidence in the results.
- Add links in the simplified text that connect back to the statements in the original text.
Open source tools
We intend to make public:
- A dataset of end-user-generated rubrics for assessing simplified texts and dataset of simplified texts that can be used by others who want to work on text simplification.
- A framework for automatically simplifying text with support for topical/cultural relevance and verification released open-source through our Open-Source Accessibility Repository (a11yhood.org) [link]
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.