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Research

Leah Findlater's Research Group Archive

This page contains an archive of the past five years of Directed Research Groups led by Professor Findlater. View her currently offered DRGs here

Autumn 2025

Current Trends in Accessibility Research

Instructors:

  • Leah Findlater
  • Lucy Jiang

This directed research group will focus on understanding and synthesizing current trends in accessibility research for people with disabilities. By reading and analyzing a selection of recent research papers (e.g., from CHI and ASSETS 2025), we will examine questions such as: 

  • What types of research problems are most commonly being addressed?
  • What range of populations are being included?
  • What models of disability are being employed, both explicitly and implicitly?
  • What additional research opportunities exist outside of these current efforts?

We will meet weekly to discuss one or more readings and to reflect on directions for future work. Students will be expected to submit reading reflections and / or help lead the weekly discussions.

Autumn 2024

Current Trends in Accessibility Research

Led by:

  • Leah Findlater
  • Avery Mack
  • Lucy Jiang
  • Gina Clepper

This directed research group will focus on understanding and synthesizing current trends in accessibility research for people with disabilities. By reading and analyzing a selection of recent research papers (e.g., from CHI and ASSETS 2024), we will examine questions such as: What types of research problems are most commonly being addressed? What range of populations are being included? What models of disability are being employed, both explicitly and implicitly? And what additional research opportunities exist outside of these current efforts?

We will meet weekly to discuss one or more readings and to reflect on directions for future work. Students will be expected to submit reading reflections and/or to help lead the weekly discussions. 

 

Autumn 2023

Current Trends in Accessibility Research

This directed research group will focus on understanding and synthesizing current trends in accessibility research for people with disabilities. By reading and analyzing a selection of recent research papers (e.g., from CHI and ASSETS 2024), we will examine questions such as: What types of research problems are most commonly being addressed? What range of populations are being included? What models of disability are being employed, both explicitly and implicitly? And what additional research opportunities exist outside of these current efforts?

We will meet weekly to discuss one or more readings and to reflect on directions for future work. Students will be expected to submit reading reflections and/or to help lead the weekly discussions. This DRG will be led by PhD candidates Emma McDonnell and Steven Goodman, and supervised by Professor Leah Findlater.

Expectations: This DRG is for 2 credit hours. Students are expected to attend weekly meetings Thursdays from 1- 2 p.m. on campus and to commit 2 - 4 hours outside of class each week to read and respond to research papers in preparation for each group meeting. This DRG will be conducted in person; please reach out to the instructors if in-person attendance may be inaccessible for you. (Note: A 1-credit hour only option may also be possible, but please discuss this in advance with the instructors.) The first meeting of the DRG will be Thursday, October 5. 

Who can apply? Students at any level who are excited about reading peer-reviewed research papers and participating in academic research-oriented discussions are welcome to apply.

 

Autumn 2022

Current Trends in Accessibility Research

This directed research group will focus on understanding and synthesizing current trends in accessibility research for people with disabilities. By reading and analyzing a selection of recent research papers (e.g., from CHI and ASSETS 2022), we will examine questions such as: What types of research problems are most commonly being addressed? What range of populations are included? What models of disability are explicitly or implicitly employed? What research opportunities exist?

We will meet weekly to discuss one or more readings and to reflect on directions for future work. Students will be expected to submit reading reflections and/or to help lead the weekly discussions. This DRG will be led by Emma McDonnell, Abigale Stangl, and Leah Findlater.

Expectations. This DRG is for 2 credit hours. Students are expected to attend the weekly meetings Wednesdays 2:30-3:30 p.m. PT and to spend 2-4 hours outside of class each week reading and responding to the readings to prepare for the group meeting. This DRG will be conducted online. (Note: A 1-credit hour only option may also be possible, but please discuss this in advance with the professor.) The first meeting of the DRG will be 10/5/22. 

Who can apply? Students at any level who are excited about reading peer-reviewed research papers and participating in academic research-oriented discussions are welcome to apply.

 

Autumn 2020

Current Trends in Accessibility Research 

This directed research group will focus on understanding and synthesizing current trends in accessibility research for people with disabilities. By reading and analyzing a selection of recent research papers (e.g., from CHI and ASSETS 2020), we will examine questions such as: What types of research problems are most commonly being addressed? What range of populations are included? What models of disability are explicitly or implicitly employed? What research opportunities exist?

We will meet weekly to discuss one or more readings and to reflect on directions for future work. Students will be expected to submit reading reflections and/or to help lead the weekly discussions. This DRG will be led by Emma McDonnell, Lotus Zhang, and Leah Findlater.

Expectations. This DRG is for 2 credit hours. Students are expected to attend the weekly meetings (time TBA) and to spend 2-4 hours outside of class each week reading and responding to the readings to prepare for the group meeting. (Note: A 1-credit hour only option may also be possible, but please discuss this in advance with the professor.)