About the CBI (Increasing the Participation of Students with Disabilities in Exploring Computer Science and Computer Science Principles Courses 2015)

Increasing the Participation of Students with Disabilities in Exploring Computer Science and Computer Science Principles Courses CBI, sponsored by AccessCSForAll , was held in Baltimore, MD on January 23 – 24, 2015.  Its purpose was to encourage efforts to make ECS and CSP courses more accessible and welcoming to students with disabilities. Taking place immediately following the Computing Education for the 21st Century principle investigator meeting, attendees included postsecondary faculty, individuals who provide professional development for ECS and CSP teachers, disability services professionals, and individuals with disabilities. 

As is typical of a CBI

• All participants contributed to its success.
• Speakers participated in group discussions.
• Experts in all topic areas were in the audience.
• Participants gave presentations and participated in large and small group discussions.
• Some predetermined professional development was presented, as well as new content was delivered as the meeting unfolded.
• Participant interests were expressed, and expertise was made known. 

The CBI provided a forum for discussing recruitment and access challenges, sharing successful practices, developing collaborations, and identifying systemic change initiatives for increasing the participation of students with disabilities in ECS and CSP courses. 

• Topics discussed included
• universal design of instruction (UDI) and academic accommodations;
• profiles of computing professionals with disabilities;
• accessibility of programming environments;
• assistive technology and accessible IT design; and
• best practices for making courses welcoming and accessible to students with disabilities. 

The agenda for the CBI, summaries of the presentations, and working group discussions are provided on the following pages.