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how generative AI aids in accessibility

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Tools such as ChatGPT can level the field for scientists who are English-language learners.Credit: Alamy

In 2015, Hana Kang experienced a traumatic injury that damaged the left hemisphere of her brain, disrupting her facility for language and ability to process abstract thoughts. She spent the next six years rebuilding her memory, recovering basic mathematics skills and relearning Korean, Japanese and English. In 2022, she returned to finish her bachelor’s degree in chemical biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

Today, Kang works as a junior specialist at the university’s Center for Genetically Encoded Materials. She uses mobility aids and an oxygen concentrator to manage her chronic pain — physical tools that are essential to her well-being. But no less meaningful are the generative artificial intelligence (GAI) programs she turns to each day to manage her time, interact with peers and conduct research. Kang struggles to read social cues and uses chatbots to play out hypothetical conversations. These tools also help her on days when fatigue clouds her thinking — by transcribing and summarizing recordings of lectures she attends, gauging tone and grammar, and polishing her code. “Without these tools, I’d be very lost, and I don’t think I could have done what I’ve managed to do,” she says.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools — including chatbots such as ChatGPT, image generators such as Midjourney and DALL-E, and coding assistants such as Copilot — have arrived in force, injecting AI into everything from drafting the simplest grocery list to writing complex computer code. Academics remain divided over whether such tools can be used ethically, however, and in a rush to control them, some institutions have curtailed or completely banned the use of GAI. But for scientists who identify as disabled or neurodivergent, or for whom English is a second language, these tools can help to overcome professional hurdles that disproportionately affect marginalized members of the academic community.

“Everybody’s talking about how to regulate AI, and there’s a concern that the people deciding these guidelines aren’t thinking about under-represented individuals,” says Chrystal Starbird, a structural biologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She recently turned her attention to how GAI can support diversity, equity and inclusion. “We have to make sure we’re not acting from a place of fear, and that we’re considering how the whole community might use and benefit from these tools.”

Friend or foe?

Shortly after OpenAI in San Francisco, California, released ChatGPT in late 2022, primary and secondary schools around the United States started banning chatbots amid fears of plagiarism and cheating. Universities worldwide soon followed suit, including institutions in France, Australia, India, China, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ayesha Pusey, a mental-health and neurodivergence specialist at a UK disability-services organization, learnt that some of her students were facing disciplinary action for using GAI. Pusey, who identifies as autistic, dyslexic and otherwise neurodivergent, uses these programs herself and says that although they can be used to cheat, they’re also invaluable for structuring her life. “I’ve had a lot of success just budgeting my time, down to the recipes I cook for myself.”

Indeed, using chatbots as a kind of digital assistant has been game-changing for many scientists with chronic illnesses or disabilities or who identify as neurodivergent. Collectively, members of these groups have long shared experiences of being ignored (see Nature Rev. Chem. 7, 815–816; 2023) by an academic system that prioritizes efficiency — stories that are now backed by data (see go.nature.com/3vuch31) .

For those who struggle with racing thoughts, it can be challenging to settle the mind when working. Tigist Tamir, a postdoctoral researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and uses chatbots — including a program called GoblinTools, developed for people who are neurodivergent — to turn that inner chatter into actionable tasks and cohesive narratives. “Whether I’m reading, writing or just making to-do lists, it’s very difficult for me to figure out what I want to say. One thing that helps is to just do a brain dump and use AI to create a boiled-down version,” she says, adding: “I feel fortunate that I’m in this era where these tools exist.”

By contrast, people including Pusey and Kang are more likely to struggle when faced with a blank page, and find chatbots useful for creating outlines for their writing tasks. Both say they sometimes feel that their writing is stilted or their narrative thread is muddled, and value the peace of mind that AI gives them by checking their work for tone and flow.

Four different AI generated images based on the same quote from a book describing a scene of a house with a dirt yard in the clearing of a wood

An AI-generated visualization of a woodland clearing described in the novel I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe.Credit: Kate Glazko generated using Midjourney

The usefulness of these tools extends beyond writing. Image generators such as OpenAI’s DALL-E allow Kate Glazko, a doctoral student in computer science at the University of Washington in Seattle, to navigate her aphantasia — the inability to visualize. When Glazko encounters a description in a book, she can enter the text into a program to create a representative image. (In February, OpenAI also announced Sora, which creates videos from text.) “Being able to read a book and see a visual output has made reading a transformative experience,” she says, adding that these programs also help people who cannot use a pencil or mouse to produce images. “It just creates a way to quickly participate in the design process.”

Levelling the field

Academia can also be a hostile place for scientists who are English-language learners. They often spend more time reading, writing and preparing English-language presentations than do those for whom English is their first language1, and they might be less inclined to attend or speak at conferences conducted in English. They are also less likely than fluent English speakers to be perceived as knowledgeable2 by colleagues, and journals are more likely to reject their papers (see Nature 620, 931; 2023).

Daishi Fujita, a chemist at Kyoto University in Japan, was educated in Japanese. Before GAI, Fujita says, “My colleagues and I would often say how we wished we could read papers in our mother tongue.” Now, they can use ChatPDF — a chatbot that answers users’ questions about the contents of a PDF file — alongside speech recognition and translation tools such as Whisper and DeepL to smooth the reading process. Particularly for literature searches or when researching unfamiliar topics, Fujita uses GAI programs to define words in unfamiliar fields and to quickly gauge whether a paper might be helpful, saving hours of work.

Generative AI can also be useful for structuring professional communications, allowing English-language learners to worry less over how their words might be perceived. María Mercedes Hincapié-Otero, a research assistant at the University of Helsinki who grew up speaking Spanish in Colombia, relies on GAI not just to structure and proof research papers, but also to draft e-mails and job applications. Passing her text through ChatGPT to check grammar and tone “helps make things a little more fair, as people like me often need to put more time and energy into producing writing at the required level”, Hincapié-Otero says. “I might ask someone to check, but if there’s no one available at the time, this becomes a great alternative.”

Similarly, Fujita has started using chatbots to help to structure and proofread his peer-review comments. Peer review is already more laborious for scientists who are English-language learners, Fujita says, but because of the small size of his field, there’s also the risk that he could be identified by his writing style. “As a native speaker, you can feel when a comment is written by a non-native speaker,” he explains.

Towards a better world

As much as GAI has been a boon for accessibility, it can also perpetuate existing biases. Most chatbots are trained on text from the Internet, which is predominantly written by white, neurotypical men, and chatbot outputs mirror that language. Kieran Rose, an autism advocate based in the United Kingdom, says that for this reason, he never uses AI to change his style of writing. “I absolutely see the usefulness of AI,” he says, but “I don’t apologize for how I communicate”.

Jennifer Mankoff, a computer scientist at the University of Washington, together with Glazko and other researchers, investigated the potential risks in a 2023 study3 in which scientists with disabilities or chronic illnesses tested GAI tools. Mankoff, who has Lyme disease and often experiences fatigue and brain fog, says that chatbots have proved helpful for tackling tedious tasks, such as collating a bibliography. But she and her co-authors also flagged instances in which chatbots returned ableist tropes, such as ChatGPT misrepresenting the findings of a paper to suggest that researchers speak only to caregivers and not to those receiving care. One co-author struggled to generate accurate images of people with disabilities: the results included disembodied hands and prosthetic legs. And although GAI programs can parrot rules for creating accessible imagery — such as providing the best colours for graphics that can be read by people with visual impairments — they often cannot apply them when creating content.

Claire Malone sitting at her home computer

Claire Malone uses AI for dictation.Credit: Claire Malone

That said, GAI can also bring joy to peoples’ lives. Speaking to Nature, scientists shared stories of using the software to create knitting patterns, recipes, poetry and art. That might seem irrelevant to academic research, but creativity is a crucial part of innovation, Mankoff says. “Particularly for creative tasks — ideation, exploration, creating throwaway things as part of the creative process — accessibility tools don’t have all of the capabilities we would want,” she says. “But GAI really opens the door for people with disabilities to engage in this space where interesting advancements happen.”

Claire Malone, a physicist turned science communicator based in London, is working on a science-fiction novel and uses AI to transcribe her thoughts through dictation — something she couldn’t do even a year ago. Malone has mobility, dexterity and speech conditions because of cerebral palsy, but in 2022, she discovered an AI tool called Voiceitt that transcribes atypical speech and integrates with ChatGPT. Whereas before she could type at six words per minute, “if I dictate, I can write at the pace that I speak”, she says, adding that the tool has been “transformative” in her work and personal life. In a LinkedIn post (see go.nature.com/3ixrynv), Malone shared how she can now get away from her desk and dictate text whenever inspiration strikes.

As for Kang, she’s started using GAI to re-engage with her creative and social outlets. Before her accident, Kang often wrote fiction and graphic novels, and she has started to do so again using ChatGPT and image generators. She’s also rebuilding her social life by hosting house parties and using ChatGPT to generate conversation topics and even jokes. Using chatbots to inject humour back into her relationships has helped her to reconnect with friends and break the ice with strangers, she says. “Humour feels like such an unimportant thing when you’re trying to rebuild a life, but if you can afford to be funny, it feels like you’ve succeeded.”

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A Comprehensive Guide to Ensuring Accessibility for All

Accessibility is a fundamental right that ensures inclusivity for people with disabilities in all aspects of life. One crucial aspect of accessibility is the design and construction of wheelchair ramps. These ramps provide individuals with mobility challenges the ability to navigate buildings and public spaces independently. To achieve true accessibility, it’s essential to understand the optimal width of wheelchair ramps. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the key considerations and guidelines for determining how wide wheelchair ramps should be to ensure accessibility for all.

1. Why Accessibility Matters

Before delving into the technical aspects of wheelchair ramp width, it’s vital to grasp the significance of accessibility. Accessibility is not just about compliance with legal regulations; it’s about fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. By ensuring that people with disabilities can access public spaces and buildings, we promote social integration, equal opportunities, and a sense of belonging for all individuals.

2. Legal Framework for Accessibility

Various laws and regulations exist globally to mandate accessibility standards. These regulations ensure that public and private spaces are designed and constructed with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets forth comprehensive guidelines for wheelchair ramp design, including specifications for width.

3. Determining the Optimal Width of Wheelchair Ram

The optimal width of a wheelchair ramp depends on several factors, including the space available, the angle of the ramp, and the specific needs of the users. Here are some critical considerations:

Space Constraints

The available space significantly influences the width of a wheelchair ramp. In situations where space is limited, designers may need to prioritize functionality over ideal width. However, it’s essential to strike a balance between space constraints and usability. A ramp that is too narrow can be challenging for wheelchair users to navigate safely.

User Needs

Consider the types of wheelchairs and mobility devices that will be using the ramp. Standard manual wheelchairs typically require less width compared to power wheelchairs or mobility scooters, which may be wider. It’s essential to ensure that the ramp accommodates a variety of mobility devices commonly used by individuals with disabilities.

ADA Guidelines

In the United States, the ADA provides specific guidelines for wheelchair ramp width. According to the ADA, the minimum clear width of a ramp should be 36 inches (or 3 feet). This width allows for comfortable passage of most standard wheelchairs.

Exit and Entry Widths

Consider the width of entry and exit points, especially when the ramp leads to doors or corridors. It’s essential that the ramp width matches or exceeds the width of these access points to ensure a smooth transition.

Turning Space

Wheelchair users may need additional space to turn and maneuver at the top and bottom of the ramp. This turning space should be incorporated into the design to allow users to navigate comfortably.

Types of Wheelchair Ramps

There are various types of wheelchair ramps, each with its own considerations regarding width:

Permanent Ramps

Permanent ramps are constructed as part of the building or structure. They should adhere to ADA guidelines for width and other specifications to ensure accessibility.

 Portable Ramps

Portable ramps are temporary solutions for enhancing accessibility in various settings. These ramps are often adjustable in width and can be customized to fit specific needs. When using portable ramps, it’s crucial to select an appropriate width that accommodates the widest mobility devices expected to use the ramp.

Threshold Ramps

Threshold ramps are designed to bridge small height differences, such as door thresholds. While these ramps may be narrower, they should still provide enough width to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters comfortably.

5. Safety and Slope Considerations

Wheelchair ramp safety is of paramount importance. In addition to width, the slope of the ramp (or its incline) is a critical factor. ADA guidelines specify that the maximum slope for a wheelchair ramp should not exceed a 1:12 ratio, which means that for every one inch of vertical rise, there should be 12 inches of horizontal run.

Maintaining the correct slope is essential for user safety. If the slope is too steep, it can be challenging for wheelchair users to ascend or descend safely. Likewise, if the ramp is too shallow, it may not provide enough incline for efficient mobility.

6. Handrails and Edge Protection

To enhance safety and stability, wheelchair ramps should incorporate handrails and edge protection. Handrails should be installed on both sides of the ramp and be at a height that is easily reachable by wheelchair users. Edge protection, such as curbs or guardrails, should be in place to prevent accidental falls off the sides of the ramp.

7. Regular Maintenance and Inspections

Once a wheelchair ramp is installed, regular maintenance and inspections are essential to ensure ongoing accessibility and safety. This includes checking for any damage, ensuring that the surface is slip-resistant, and confirming that handrails and edge protection are secure.

Ensuring the optimal width of wheelchair ramps is a fundamental aspect of accessibility design. By adhering to guidelines and considering various factors such as space constraints, user needs, and safety considerations, we can create wheelchair ramps that provide independence and inclusivity for all individuals, regardless of their mobility challenges. Accessibility is a human right, and designing ramps with the correct width is a tangible step toward achieving a more accessible and equitable society.

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An Introduction to the Website Accessibility Audit

Ensuring that your website is accessible to all is not just good practice; it’s the law in many countries. To achieve this, one crucial step is an accessibility audit. This process evaluates your website’s compliance with accessibility standards and guidelines to identify and rectify any barriers that may prevent people with disabilities from fully utilizing your site. In this article, we’ll delve into what you can expect during a website accessibility audit.

Initial Assessment

The accessibility audit process typically begins with a comprehensive assessment of your website. This phase involves evaluating your site’s overall structure, content, and functionality to identify potential accessibility issues. The audit team will use various tools and manual testing methods to get a broad understanding of your website’s accessibility strengths and weaknesses.

During the accessibility audit, your website will be evaluated against relevant accessibility standards and regulations. In the United States, for instance, websites are expected to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 or 2.1, depending on the legal framework. Ensure that your audit includes a thorough review to determine whether your site complies with these standards and any applicable local laws.

Content Evaluation

Content is king on the web, and it’s essential that your website’s content is accessible to all users. Auditors will scrutinize your site’s text, images, videos, and other multimedia elements to ensure they are perceivable, operable, and understandable by people with disabilities. Alt text for images, captions for videos, and clear, plain language are just a few aspects that will be examined.

Code Review

A critical aspect of website accessibility is the underlying code. Auditors will review the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code of your website to ensure it adheres to best practices for accessibility. This includes checking for proper semantic markup, ARIA roles and attributes, and keyboard accessibility.

Functional and User Experience Testing

This aspect of the accessibility audit focuses on assessing the functionality of your website. Testers will navigate your site using various assistive technologies like screen readers, voice recognition software, and keyboard-only navigation. They will evaluate how easily users with disabilities can perform essential tasks, such as filling out forms, making purchases, or accessing content.

To get a true sense of the user experience, auditors will often engage individuals with disabilities in usability testing. This hands-on approach helps identify specific issues that might not be apparent through automated testing alone. Users will be asked to complete common tasks on your site while providing feedback on any barriers they encounter.

After conducting a thorough assessment of your website’s accessibility, the audit team will compile their findings into a comprehensive report. This report will outline the identified issues, categorize them by severity, and provide recommendations for remediation. It is crucial to receive a detailed report to understand the scope of work required to achieve compliance.

Once you have the accessibility audit report in hand, you’ll need to create a remediation plan. This plan should prioritize identified issues and outline a timeline for fixing them. Some issues may be quick fixes, while others might require significant development work. A well-structured plan is essential for efficiently addressing accessibility concerns.

Next Steps After an Accessibility Audit

Website accessibility is an ongoing process. After addressing the issues outlined in the accessibility audit, it’s vital to continuously monitor your site’s accessibility. Regularly test new content and features to ensure they meet accessibility standards, and conduct periodic audits to catch any regressions.

However, you also need to build a culture of accessibility within your organization. Start by providing training and awareness programs for your team members. Ensuring that everyone understands the importance of accessibility and knows how to create and maintain accessible content is key to long-term success.

Website Accessibility Audits: The Key to Digital Inclusion

A website accessibility audit is a crucial step in ensuring that your digital presence is inclusive and compliant with legal standards. It involves a thorough evaluation of your site’s structure, content, and functionality, with the goal of identifying and addressing barriers that may prevent people with disabilities from accessing your site effectively. By following the recommendations of the audit and committing to ongoing accessibility efforts, you can create a more inclusive online environment for all users, ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital landscape.

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The Benefits of WCAG Compliance: Enhancing Website Accessibility

In today’s digital age, the importance of web accessibility cannot be overstated. Ensuring that your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is not only a moral obligation but also a smart business decision. One of the key frameworks for achieving web accessibility is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). In this blog post we will explore the numerous benefits of being WCAG compliant for accessibility on your website.

Many countries have enacted laws and regulations that require websites to be accessible. By adhering to WCAG guidelines, you not only improve the user experience but also ensure that your website is in compliance with legal requirements. This can protect your business from potential lawsuits and fines related to accessibility violations. You can check WCAG compliance of your website at the following link.

Expanding Your Audience

One of the most significant advantages of WCAG compliance is that it allows you to reach a broader audience. Approximately 15% of the world’s population lives with disabilities, and by making your website accessible, you open the door to this significant demographic. This can lead to increased traffic, engagement, and potentially more conversions.

Improved SEO

Search engines like Google consider accessibility when ranking websites. WCAG compliant websites tend to have better SEO performance because search engines can more easily index their content. Additionally, accessible websites often have better user engagement metrics, which also positively impact search engine rankings.

Enhanced Reputation

Demonstrating a commitment to accessibility sends a positive message to your audience. It shows that you value all your users, regardless of their abilities, and are dedicated to providing an inclusive online experience. This can boost your brand’s reputation and customer loyalty.

Increased Usability

WCAG guidelines promote good web design practices. Implementing these guidelines can lead to a more user-friendly and intuitive website. Users, both with and without disabilities, will appreciate a website that is easy to navigate and use, which can lead to higher user satisfaction and longer visit durations.

Innovation and Competitive Advantage

Investing in accessibility can also drive innovation within your organization. It encourages you to think creatively and come up with new solutions to make your website more inclusive. Being a leader in accessibility can set you apart from competitors and give you a competitive edge in your industry.

Future-Proofing

Technology evolves rapidly, and the digital landscape is constantly changing. By following WCAG guidelines, you future-proof your website to a certain extent. As new technologies and devices emerge, your accessible website will be better prepared to adapt, ensuring that you remain relevant and functional in the years to come.

Social Responsibility

Web accessibility is not just about compliance; it’s about social responsibility. By making your website accessible, you contribute to a more inclusive online environment, making the internet a better place for everyone. This commitment to social responsibility can resonate positively with your audience and stakeholders.

Conclusion: Embrace WCAG Compliance for a More Inclusive Web

Incorporating WCAG compliance into your website development and maintenance processes is not just a box to check; it’s a strategic investment in the future of your online presence. The benefits of web accessibility extend beyond legal requirements; they encompass a broader audience reach, improved SEO, a better user experience, and a stronger reputation. In a world where inclusivity matters more than ever, being WCAG compliant is not just a choice; it’s a necessity. So, start the journey toward a more accessible web today, and reap the rewards for your business and society as a whole.