Enhancing Computing Accessibility Education Using Experiential Labs: A Focus on Color Blindness and Localization

Accessibility is a crucial component in developing inclusive software. However, studies reveal that much of today's software is not designed with accessibility in mind. This issue is compounded by the fact that students often lack an understanding of both how to create accessible software and why it is important. To address this educational gap, we developed a set of labs known as Accessible Learning Labs (ALL). These experiential labs aim to teach participants the proper methods for creating accessible software while highlighting the significance of inclusivity. Additionally, these labs allow students to experience the effects of inaccessible software firsthand and apply corrective measures to improve accessibility. All project materials are freely accessible on the project website: https://all.rit.edu.