University of Maryland
TRACE RERC
Technology R&D to Increase Accessibility for Community Living, Education & Employment

Current Projects

R1: Leveraging and Personalizing Generative AI for Accessibility

As AI technologies advance, assistive technologies and people with disabilities are getting left behind. Most datasets are not trained with data from people with disabilities, so a lot of AI models can be biased and implicitly ableist. This project focuses on studying and training AI models alongside people with disabilities.

R2: Bridging Critical Gaps in Technology Use by Older Adults

Many technologies that are assumed to be intuitive might not be for older adults. When this happens, older adults are often blamed rather than the technologies. This project focuses on understanding the views and needs of older adults regarding technology and studying how technologies can be designed to suit people of all ages.

D1: New Solution and Standard for Public Touchscreen Access

Many kiosks are not accessible to people with disabilities. Adding accessibility to a kiosk is something that has been done for many years, but all of them require adding extra hardware to devices which is challenging with smaller and newer kiosks. This project focuses on a new solution and standard for touchscreens.

D2: Open-Source Photosensitive Epilepsy Analysis Tool

Content creators aren’t all aware that flashing can cause seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. The TRACE Center has a tool called PEAT that is for screening content. However, this tool is slowly breaking down. An updated tool is needed for people to be able to screen content and create safe media.

D3: Advancing Accessibility into the Actual Lives of People with Disabilities

There are many amazing ideas that can help people with disabilities. However, these ideas actually have to reach the people. This project focuses on standards & regulations, and distributing and using technologies to create real-world impact.

  • Maryland Initiative for Digital Accessibility

    The TRACE RERC is an active participant in MIDA, a new organization focused on the design of technology products that are "born-accessible."

    Raising the Floor

    The primary development partner of the TRACE RERC since 2013, the team at the nonprofit Raising the Floor is continuing the development and deployment of Morphic and AT-on-Demand, and will partner on several development activities in the new RERC grant.