Our Blog
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Play for All: Teaching Accessible Game Design with MakeCode Arcade
Zero Day Camp is seeking feedback on its draft curriculum, “Play for All,” a four-lesson computer science unit for grades 4-6. Students learn computational thinking by modifying a game called Catch It! to enhance accessibility. The curriculum includes lesson plans, multilingual vocabulary, and resources, aimed at diverse learners. Feedback is welcome.
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Makecode Arcade Keyboard Accessibility
Blockly has been hard at work over the past year or so working to improve accessibility. It’s latest version, V13, now supports both screen readers and full keyboard accessibility. One of our favorite tools, Makecode Arcade, has added the keyboard functionality allowing users who cannot access a mouse or struggle with cursor controls to use…
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Custom Switch Configuration of the Adafruit TRRS Trinkey
Turn Simple Switches Into Anything If you can press a button, you can control a computer. That’s the idea behind accessibility switches — the big, easy-to-press buttons used in assistive technology. The tricky part has always been connecting a switch to a computer and deciding what it should do. The TRRS Trinkey Configurator makes that…
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Blockly Switch Scanning Interface
Making Computer Science Educational Affordable and Accessible for Everyone We are excited to announce the beta release of an open-source assistive technology project: a programmable switch interface device designed to help computer science students with motor impairments control their block based editors using one or two adaptive switches. This project was made possible through the…
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Volunteers Needed: Accessible CS Curriculum Testers
Are you passionate about inclusive education and eager to make a difference? We’re looking for volunteers and caregivers to join a project that empowers students with physical disabilities to explore the world of computer science! Project Overview: The NYC Metro Chapter of Makers Making Change and Kirsty McNaught are looking for families, educators, disability professionals…
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Leveling Up Accessibility: The Power of Custom Game Design for Switch Users
In the world of special education and disability services, we often talk about “access.” But access isn’t just about being in the room; it’s about having the agency to change what happens in that room. For individuals with limited mobility, adaptive gaming is one of the most joyful and effective ways to build that agency.…
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Simplify the MakeCode Editor
The MakeCode integrated development environment (IDE) created by Microsoft is a great platform for learning computer science starting with beginner friendly block based coding and transitioning to language based programming. It is web based and open sourced, lowering the entry bar. Many flavors of MakeCode exist depending on your teaching objectives these include: The IDE…
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Switch Operated Media Player
Being able to independently play, interact with, and choose music is one of the oft-overlooked joys in life. Music has a profound impact on our emotional and mental well-being. For people with physical disabilities who utilize switches as access methods, the simple act of playing and pausing a song can require a set of complex…
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Event: Holiday Toys Hackathon
Join the NYC Metro chapter of Makers Making Change for our annual toy adapting hackathon. We will be modifying existing toys to make them more accessible and usable for children with disabilities giving them access to play! In addition, we will be fabricating 3D printed switches that will accompany the toy. All skill levels are…
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Giving Your Students Accessible CS Alternative Communication for Collaboration
Computer science education is critical in supporting students’ understanding of the world around them and helps develop skills beyond “coding”. It serves as a foundational pillar that equips learners with essential problem-solving abilities, logical reasoning, and computational thinking, all of which are vital in our increasingly technology-driven society. It is critical that we ensure as…