A Longitudinal Evaluation of the Impact of a Graduate Student Accessibility Training on Student Learning Outcomes

Abstract

This paper describes a training program designed to increase accessibility competencies in graduate students of interdisciplinary backgrounds, including those in computing education, and presents a longitudinal study that examined the program's effectiveness. We surveyed two graduate student cohorts in the program at multiple periods over eight months (N = 14). Students reported their level of program engagement, empathy, technical knowledge, and career interests in accessibility. We found that participants’ physical engagement and empathy increased over time at a marginal significance level. Students reported high medians on other measurements, which imply the program successfully maintained their engagement, technical knowledge, and career interests. We offer recommendations to enhance the quality of accessibility education to graduate students in computing.