A participatory design workshop on accessible apps and games with students with learning differences

This paper describes a Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics STEMoutreach workshop conducted with post-secondary students diagnosed with learning differences, including Learning Disabilities LD Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders AD/HD and/or Autism Spectrum Disorders ASD). In this workshop, students were actively involved in participatory design exercises such as data gathering, identifying accessible design requirements, and evaluating mobile applications and games targeted for diverse users. This hands-on experience broadened students' understanding of STEM areas, provided them with an opportunity to see themselves as computer scientists, and demonstrated how they might succeed in computing careers, especially in human-centered computing and interface design. Lessons learned from the workshop also offer useful insight on conducting participatory design with this unique population.