Workshop #4: Building Accessible Futures: See, Experience, and Rethink Accessibility (Canceled)

Accessibility has gained more visibility in recent years, yet full integration into everything we do remains a work in progress. Our collective understanding of accessibility, and the wide-reaching benefits it brings to society, often remains limited. This workshop focuses on raising awareness and fostering critical reflection on accessibility. Participants will gain both practical experience and deeper insight through hands-on activities, such as trying out vision disability simulation glasses, and leave with a renewed perspective on how accessibility can benefit everyone.

• Gain a deeper understanding of accessibility
• Engage in hands-on experiences with accessibility simulations and technologies
• Collaborate with participants from various backgrounds

We especially want to attract participants who have a limited understanding of accessibility, as this workshop will provide valuable insights for them. However, it is beneficial for anyone interested in accessibility, regardless of their prior knowledge.

The workshop will accommodate 10–15 participants. If interest exceeds this number, priority will be given to those with limited prior knowledge of accessibility.

The registration deadline is 03.10.2025.

No specific requirement, but Registration is mandatory: Registration form

• Pauliina Baltzar (PhD), is a University Instructor at Tampere University, Finland. She coordinates the Tampere Accessibility Unit (TACCU), which focuses on accessibility education and research. Since 2021, she has been teaching courses related to accessibility. Pauliina has also contributed to the development of master’s degree programs, including “Accessibility and Diversity in Digital Services,” “Sustainable Digital Life,” and “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Societies.”
• Tero Avellan is a doctoral researcher at Tampere University, Finland. His research focuses on the various socio-technical aspects of accessible and assistive technology in the future society, especially in how emerging technologies (such as additive manufacturing, AI, and XR) can be adapted to enhance accessibility. As a member of the TACCU, Tero has strong contribution to teaching and developing accessibility related courses since 2020. He has also contributed to the development of the “Accessibility and Diversity in Digital Services” master’s degree program.
• Markku Turunen, a PhD and professor of Interactive Technology, leads the Pervasive Interaction Research Group (PIRG). He has been carrying out accessibility research all of his career. Recently, Professor Turunen established the TACCU alongside two colleagues. Within just three years, TACCU has emerged as a leading center for accessibility research and education. It offers the most comprehensive master’s level accessibility education globally, including the pioneering English master’s program titled “Accessibility and Diversity in Digital Services.” Additionally, Professor Turunen leads the international master’s program “Sustainable Digital Life” and collaborates with Tallinn University and Lusofona University on the Erasmus Mundus master’s program “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Societies”.

9.00-9.30 Welcome and Workshop Introduction

• Introduction of workshop
• Introducing facilitators (5 mins)
• Introducing TACCU Tampere Accessibility Unit and accessibility education (10 min)
• Participants introduce themselves and share expectations for the day (15 min)

9.30-10.30 Introduction to Accessibility

• Discussing: what is accessibility
• Overview of key concepts and definitions
• Discussing models of disability, legislation

10.30-11.00 Break

11:00-12.30 Experiencing Accessibility – Hands on

• Hands on session using accessibility simulators (60 min)
• Writing down and discussing the experiences based on guiding questions (30 min)

12.30-14.00: Lunch

14.00- 15.30 Designing accessible future

• Introducing SCRAMPER (20min)
• Task 1: Join a group and choose a topic (15 min)
• Task 2: Ideation (15 min)
• Task 3: Narrowing focus (15 min)
• Task 4: SCAMPER (25 min)

15.30-16.00 Break

16.00-17.30 Reflection and Wrap-Up

• Task 5: Short presentations and feedback on them (45min)
• Wrap-up and feedback (30 min)
• What accessibility challenge did you try to solve?
• What kind of accessibility concepts you were able to illustrate?
• Would it be possible to implement it within your research or work?
• What was your key takeaway?
• What is accessibility?
• Closing remarks and summarization (15 min)

If you have any other questions, you can contact:

• Pauliina Baltzar: pauliina.baltzar@tuni.fi
• Tero Avellan: tero.avellan@tuni.fi