Aura Chuck presenting finalized research at the Susquehanna Valley Research Symposium (SVRUS)
Aura Chuck Hernandez is a sophomore at Bucknell University majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Literary Studies, with aspirations for law school. Her passion for social justice, cultivated through work with organizations like Sunrise Movement and the Western Pennsylvania School of the Deaf, now intersects with her interest in technology. As a Spring and Summer '24 Just Computing Fellow, Aura collaborated with Professor Anne Ross on projects focused on how legislation and education can enhance digital accessibility.
For more information, refer to Aura's Linkedin.
What comes to mind when you hear the term "digital accessibility?" For many, it's something they can't define or have never encountered. Digital accessibility is the practice of making digital platforms usable for everyone, regardless of their ability levels.
This research project utilizes several methods to address specific hindrances that make digital accessibility harder for people to implement. While our approaches aim to address the general population, some research initiatives emphasize specifically promoting digital accessibility concepts to small businesses from Northumberland, Union, and Snyder counties. By targeting the legal, business, and human challenges that come with digital accessibility promotion, people will be more prepared and willing to utilize digital accessibility in their endeavors.
In my research, I defined the primary barriers to digital accessibility into 3 categories - the human, the legal, and the business.
Human barriers describe the cognitive dissonance that occurs when someone has an innate desire to implement solutions that help others, but have a lack of knowledge or ability to execute these goals.
This research project employed a mixed-methods approach to investigate current educational models for digital accessibility and to examine perceptions of digital accessibility among rural businesses in Union, Snyder, and Northumberland counties. The study aimed to identify gaps in knowledge and expertise related to digital accessibility while exploring the implications of federal regulations on digital accessibility requirements for businesses.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two key groups:
Digital Accessibility Specialists - To gain expert insights into existing educational frameworks and challenges in implementing digital accessibility standards.
Business Owners and Consumers in Rural Pennsylvania - To understand their perceptions, experiences, and challenges regarding digital accessibility, particularly in underserved rural areas.
The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the qualitative data analysis platform Dedoose. This platform facilitated the identification of common themes and patterns, enabling the exploration of correlations between knowledge gaps and implementation challenges faced by businesses.
To comprehend the impact of federal regulations on digital accessibility requirements, a comprehensive review of relevant legal documents and policy changes was conducted. This included an analysis of:
Federal Accessibility Guidelines - Such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Proposed Legislative Changes - To evaluate potential future implications for digital accessibility compliance among rural businesses.
Insights gained from this legal analysis informed the development of digital accessibility audits and recommendations tailored to the needs of rural businesses in Pennsylvania.
Under the guidance of Professor Ross, digital accessibility audits were conducted for select rural businesses. These audits evaluated the current state of digital accessibility in websites and digital platforms, focusing on:
Compliance with WCAG standards
User experience for individuals with disabilities
Technical barriers and potential solutions
Advisory sessions were then held to provide customized recommendations for improving digital accessibility. During these sessions, observations were recorded on:
Points of confusion or resistance encountered by business owners
Challenges in understanding or implementing digital accessibility best practices
All participants provided informed consent prior to interviews and advisory sessions. Data confidentiality was maintained, ensuring anonymity and secure storage of transcripts and legal documents. The study adhered to ethical guidelines established by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Bucknell University.
This study focuses on rural businesses in three counties in Pennsylvania, which may limit the generalizability of findings to other regions or urban contexts. Additionally, the evolving nature of digital accessibility legislation could influence the relevance of legal insights over time. Since the timing of this research (Summer '24), the United States has released the comprehensive digital accessibility tool ANDI.
This methodological approach provides a comprehensive understanding of digital accessibility challenges within rural business contexts while contributing to the development of more effective educational models and compliance strategies.
My finalized poster includes visual digital accesibility policy examples, reference to accesibility education efforts, and a diagram outlining the barriers to accesibility education.
This report is intended to outline and amplify pertinent federal digital accessibility changes, specifically highlighting compliance deadlines and penalties for businesses with digital platforms. The goal of this paper was to practice policy translation and create a resource for rural business owners to utilize, giving them a greater sense of utility and agency when editing or creating a digital platform for their business.
Working with Professor Ross and the Mozilla Foundation was an extremely rewarding process.
From a more technical standpoint, this project enabled me to refine my qualitative research skills, using programs like Dedoose to organize research data. I learned how to check compliance for vital accessibility concepts like alt-text, color contrast, etc - earning the title of Accessibility Consultant. When the scope of my research expanded to consider legislation, I practiced interpreting and translating legislation (i.e; ADA Accessibility Standards) for specific demographics (small businesses in rural PA).
While I could conceptualize digital accessibility, I only began to understand the concept & the many ways digital accessibility impacts everyone as I began my research. This field of study ensures that principles of equity & inclusion are prioritized in our designs and coding practices. I know the lessons I've learned from this experience will carry over into my future projects and make me a more holistic student & worker.