Information Energy Program Detail

Back to the Conference Program

Beyond requirements. Why accessibility is necessary to all of us.

  • Presentation
  • Multimodality and Accessibility in TD
  • 02. April
  • 14:00 - 14:40 PM (CEST)
  • 12:00 - 12:40 PM (UTC) | 08:00 - 08:40 AM (EDT)
  • Find your local time here: Time Converter
  • finished
  • Pia Maria Karasjärvi

    Pia Maria Karasjärvi

    • University of Vaasa
  • Doctor Rebekah Rousi

    Doctor Rebekah Rousi

    • University of Vaasa

Contents

 

Despite critical scholarship addressing the complexity of accessibility, its components, types (physical, digital, cognitive etc.) and stakeholders, all too often the word ‘accessibility’ conjures mental images of people with notable ‘disabilities’. That is, the term, as with the vast field it represents, is overlooked, marginalised and generalised due to its relevance seemingly only for a specific minority. The fact is, accessibility is not only important on a societal level, but also from the perspective of all of us, who will at some time need content, format, infrastructure and other modifications in order to engage in societal and specific contexts.

Here, we will present the early workings of a study examining the understandings and expertise of technical communication professionals regarding ‘accessibility’ and what it means in terms of their work. The study is implemented as a questionnaire. The presentation will focus on outlining the questionnaire design, and showing preliminary research.

 

Takeaways

  • Accessibility is a means of connecting people. To cater for diverse stakeholders we need to go beyond narrow definitions
  • Accessibility is for all whether connecting people or enabling
  • TD professionals need the how and also the why

Prior knowledge

The presentation is aimed at anyone in the TD field who is interested in accessibility and why it is important.

Speakers

Pia Maria Karasjärvi

Pia Maria Karasjärvi

  • University of Vaasa
Biography

Pia Karasjärvi is a technical communication professional with 20 years of experience across various roles and industries. She holds an MA in Technical Communication from the University of Vaasa and is currently pursuing a PhD focused on digital accessibility. Passionate about inclusive communication, she explores how accessibility impacts both users and content creators. Pia works as a Documentation Specialist at Vaisala, where she applies her expertise to improve accessibility in technical documentation. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between technology and user needs, advocating for a more accessible digital world.

 
Doctor Rebekah Rousi

Doctor Rebekah Rousi

  • University of Vaasa
Biography

Rebekah Rousi is an Associate Professor (Tenure Track) of Communication and Digital Economy, at the School of Marketing and Communication, University of Vaasa, Finland. Rousi holds a PhD in Cognitive Science and has specialised in researching human experience via embodied cognition and semiotics in relation to diverse forms of technology. Rousi has a professional background as a contemporary performance artist, with research experience in cultural studies, and particularly postcolonial theory. Her research interests mainly focus on human-robot and human-artificial intelligence interaction, embodied emotional experience, posthumanism, ethics, and issues of trust and privacy. 

Back