Designing for the Freedom to be Me

This workshop aims to address the need for technology that goes beyond accommodations for neurodivergence to celebrating neurodiversity. This is done in part, by examining how technology can intervene on normative attitudes, biases, and behaviors enacted by the general public and embedded in social practices, institutions, and infrastructure. By engaging participants in a comprehensive exploration of celebratory technology, the workshop seeks to redefine its parameters, examine existing research and examples, and collaboratively generate new ideas.

We will discuss how celebratory technology can influence various research methodologies, evaluate the impact of design choices, and address biases and stigma associated with autism and other neurodivergencies. Through participatory evaluation and brainstorming, participants will work together to develop a master plan to meet crucial needs in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and create a framework for future research and design.

Workshop Goals

1. Develop shared language and understanding around Celebratory Technology for Neurodiversity.
2. Identify emerging design principles, research questions, and methodological considerations for future work.
3. Strengthen an interdisciplinary community interested in advancing celebratory approaches within accessibility and HCI research.

Workshop Theme

This year's workshop theme is “Designing for the Freedom to Be Me.”

Workshop Co-Chairs

LouAnne Boyd

Chapman University

Annuska Zolyomi

University of Washington, Bothell

Rua Williams

Purdue University

Andrew Begel

Carnegie Mellon University

Nick Dalton

Northumbria University