Workshop: Accessibility in Audio Tech - Hosted By Jay Pocknell - ADC 2025

https://audio.dev/ -- @audiodevcon​
ADC Bristol ​- 9th - 11th November
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Workshop: Accessibility in Audio Tech - Jay Pocknell, Tim Burgess, Tim Yates, Samuel John Prouse, David Shervill, Liza Bec, Tim Adnitt & Mxshi Mo - ADC 2025
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As audio production techniques and technologies evolve, so too must the ways we think about accessibility. To improve inclusion in music-making, it is essential that access is evaluated throughout the design of audio technology, not as an add-on or afterthought.

Building on ADC24’s ‘Inclusive Design in Audio Products: Why, Why, How?’ workshop, this symposium comprises a series of sessions that will unpick the systematic barriers to accessibility within audio, and highlight solutions that you can embed into your projects. 

Throughout the afternoon, disabled musicians, accessibility consultants, and representatives from organisations driving change will share insights into the opportunities for a more inclusive audio industry. Attendees will help collate a list of inclusive design principles to demystify accessible product development in future. 

The concepts covered will be suitable for beginner, intermediate, and advanced audio programmers, though the sessions will not delve too deeply into code examples. 

Introduction to the Social Model of Disability

Liza Bec, Tim Yates

The Social Model of Disability is a set of principles that informs our understanding of disability. It was borne from the disability rights movement, led by disabled people, in the UK. In this presentation we will give an overview of the Social Model, including the key ideas, some of the language used, as well as an insight into how the ideas apply to music making and music technology.
Structural access barriers within the audio industry, and opportunities to be part of the solution

Tim Yates, Liza Bec, Jay Pocknell, Mxshi Mo

It can be incredibly difficult for disabled musicians to navigate the music tech space, find the equipment and instruments that they need, and then get hold of them. In this discussion we will outline some of the barriers people face, and discuss some of the structural solutions that we can collectively put in place to address them. We will also explore Drake Music’s pioneering Accessible Musical Instrument Collection and DMLab initiatives. 
Making software talk: screen reader implementation principles

Tim Burgess & Jay Pocknell

What makes software accessible for blind users? What do concepts like ‘focus’ and ‘tab order’ mean in practical terms? This section shares insight into how to look at an app from a blind user’s perspective, and where to start with screen reader accessibility and keyboard navigation, no matter which development framework you are using.
Usability, not just accessibility

Jay Pocknell, Byron Harden (pre-recorded presentation).

Can software really be considered ‘accessible’ if functions could take screen reader users many times longer to access? In this presentation, we explore opportunities for optimising workflows for screen reader users and replicating the glanceability that sighted users often rely upon. We also share opportunities to work with blind community members to get user experience feedback.

Spotlight: Defining a Framework for Universal Design

Sam Prouse & David Shervill

David Shervill will discuss music education’s role in supporting beginners and those returning to the creative industry, and ways we can all support inclusive development. Sam will present a universal design model for software and hardware. He’ll give an overview of key accessibility standards and how they’ve been adapted from W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (A11Y) to broader software contexts. David and Sam will conclude with a preview of their in-depth talk scheduled for Wednesday.
Spotlight: Native Instruments’ Accessibility Helper app

Tim Adnitt

- How Native Instruments’ Accessibility Helper makes NI’s hardware products accessible.
- How it enables Kontrol MK3 keyboards to additionally control non-NKS third-party plug-in and even hardware synths.
- Community-generated MIDI templates for hardware accessibility.
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems.
Annual ADC Conference - https://audio.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiodevcon
https://twitter.com/audiodevcon
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Streamed & Edited by Digital Medium Ltd: https://online.digital-medium.co.uk
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Organized and produced by JUCE: https://juce.com/
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Special thanks to the ADC25 Team:

Sophie Carus
Derek Heimlich
Andrew Kirk
Bobby Lombardi
Tom Poole
Ralph Richbourg
Jim Roper
Jonathan Roper
Prashant Mishra

#adc #audiodev #dsp #audio #conferenceaudio #audioprocessing #audioproduction #audioprogramming #sound #music #musictech #soundtech #audiotech #audiotechnology

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