[Note: In this site, we use the term Extended Reality (XR) as a convenient shorthand referring collectively to the different modalities of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR). ]
How might XR modalities be deployed for teaching and learning in ways that furnish multiple means for representation, action & expression, and engagement while also aligning with our commitment to making user-facing IT environments accessible?
This site covers some of the potential barriers to using XR faced by people with disabilities or, better put, diverse users across a truly representative range of visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive capacities. We also showcase some of the research and emerging best practices for overcoming these barriers particularly through the support and development of assistive technologies. Along the way, we consider important process dimensions for organizing analysis of accessibility: content development, assistive technology support, hardware and content selection/acquisition, instructional deployment with accommodation, evaluation cycles and iterative improvements. The UDL framework has something to offer across all these dimensions.
