2023

First Place: AcessEase

Winners: Medha Muppala and Kiran Prasad Puthan

Graduate Student in the School of Computer Science

AccessEase is an AI-assisted document accessibility solution. This software would use natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to automatically scan and analyze documents for accessibility issues, such as poor color contrast or font size, and then make the necessary adjustments to improve the document's accessibility for users with disabilities.

Second Place: Print Accessible Web Search

Winner: Farinam Hemmatizadeh

Graduate Student in the School of Computer Science

Print Accessible Web Search solution is intends to address the lack of accessibility in the design of information retrieval search engines. This solution enhances the user interface and the behind-the-scenes algorithms by implementing accessibility guidelines throughout the information retrieval process. This increases universality to improve access for all people, including individuals with disabilities.

Fourth Place: Shelter Everywhere

Winner: Dhwani Patel

Graduate Student in Engineering (Mechanical)

This solution helps support people with disabilities to live in their community by providing community-based support through the Shelter Everywhere app. This app connects people to volunteers in the area who can provide temporary shelter in inclement weather, transportation, assistance with urgent medical situations, and protection from harm.

 

2021

First Place: The ADHD (e) Project

Winner: Nadia Gill

Undergraduate Student in Dramatic Arts

The project was developed to address attitudinal barriers that affect people with ADHD. The project is comprised of a three step plan to encourage open dialogue, promote judgement-free education, and foster a more inclusive environment for neurodivergent students in post-secondary. The main components are: 1) a social media awareness campaign; 2) series of educational seminars; 3) development of a permanent online resource to support neurodivergent students, staff, faculty, and the broader community.

Note: This “idea” placed third in the national IDeA competition run by the Council of Ontario Universities.

Second Place: Adaptable Accessibility Strategies in the Classroom

Winners: Maria Lederer, Logan Gillingham, Alexane Chiasson, Vishmith Kumarasinghe, Gabriella Walker

Undergraduate students in the School of Creative Arts, Visual Arts and the Built Environment (VABE)

This project examined the physical barriers in the classroom and designed solutions to address them. The barriers identified included spacing, location of accessible seating (often segregated), furniture, noise, floor surfaces, and tripping hazards. The solutions presented demonstrated improved accessibility through adequate furniture, flooring, and acoustics which can be cost-effective solutions to adapting existing classroom spaces.

Third Place: Speech-to-Text Mask

Winner: Ahmed Anwer

Undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering

During the pandemic it became apparent that wearing masks created a barrier for people who have hearing disabilities. The Text-to-Speech mask converts audio information from the wearer into a digital display to overcome communication barriers. Masks can be worn during pandemics, in regular medical settings, or in other settings where this technology could improve communication.

Fourth Place: Accessible Rear Car Door

Winners: Harsimran Gujral, Nikhil Thomas Kuttothara, Akash Dineshbhai Patel, Dinesh Sanker Natarajan

Graduate students in Mechanical Engineering (Automotive Option)

This project deals with modelling and validating a rear door for a person using a mobility device to enter and ext a vehicle with ease by providing a modified door configuration with hinges. The method proposed saves time and is cost-effective. The design is intended to provide ease of access for a person with support or for independent access.

 

Other winners from past competitions

Aphasia Friendly Business Campaign

Addressing information, communications, and attitudinal barriers. The Aphasia Friendly Business Campaign aims to educate local businesses about aphasia and advocate for the rights of people with aphasia to receive access to goods and services.

Wheelchair Accessibility at the Gym

Addressing architectural/physical, and attitudinal barriers. This IDeA was to help make people with disabilities feel more included at gyms and physical activity centres. The first part of the project included a survey which was sent to 34 physical activity centres in the Windsor and surrounding areas to determine if they are wheelchair accessible. The campaign includes gym attendees with disabilities posting pictures of inclusive practices on twitter with the hashtag #EveryoneIsWelcomeAtOurGyms.

I Saw the Sign: A New Translation Application for Google Glass

Addressing information and communications barriers. This IDeA involved an app, to be known as “I Saw the Sign”, which would use the means of Google Glass to scan a person’s American Sign Language (ASL) communication and translate it into English. A caption of the ASL would be projected onto the viewfinder display of the augmented image. This will allow persons who cannot speak ASL to understand and communicate.

Haptic Awareness Device (H.A.D)

Addressing Information, communications, and technology barriers. This IDeA for a haptic awareness device would allow people with a visual disability the ability to detect their surroundings. The user would detect people in their immediate vicinity, which direction they are approaching from, and how close they are to the user through vibrations on the device, which would correspond to an approaching cellphone or Bluetooth device. As more vehicles are being equipped with Bluetooth devices, the device would also inform users of approaching vehicles.