This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Laura Wissiak, CPACC
TL;DR
- Day 4 of the “How Can I Be a Part of the Solution to an Accessible World – An Engineering Approach” workshop at Senses Hub in Nairobi became a hackathon centered on assistive technology.
- I was asked to start the day off with a crash course on website accessibility and testing tools.
- Participants received persona cards describing users with various disabilities and built hardware‑ or software‑based solutions within a few hours.
- In the afternoon, teams were judged by FH Technikum Wien facilitators and members of the PWD community.
🎤 Opening Session – Website Accessibility Basics
I gave the makers a short but powerful tutorial:
- Introduced the core principles of website accessibility: semantic HTML, proper ARIA, colour contrast, keyboard navigation.
- Shared a curated list of free testing tools (axe‑core, WAVE, Lighthouse) and demonstrated how to audit with them.
- Walked the makers through the process of turning a static page into an accessible experience, emphasizing users first design.
👥 Persona‑Driven Challenge
After the intro, each group received a persona card that described:
- The user’s disability(s): visual, motor, cognitive, hearing, etc.
- The assistive‑tech stack they already use: screen reader, switch device, voice control, etc.
- A concrete goal they want to achieve, e.g., ordering groceries, navigating a campus map, or reading a PDF for university.
Why personas?
Instead of a generic “solve X” brief, we provided participants with real-world contexts so they could empathize and prototype solutions that truly meet user needs.
💡 Hackathon Highlights
Within the limited time, teams produced a surprising variety of prototypes:
| Team | Disability Focus | Solution Type | Quick Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Alpha | Low‑vision | Software | Custom landing page with large‑type UI, colour‑blind friendly palette, and shortcuts. |
| Team Beta | Motor impairment | Hardware | A switch system that translates a single switch press into multi‑step navigation. |
| Team Gamma | Cognitive | Software | Augmented Communication web app with shortcuts to often-used phrases |
Their processes ranged from pure software to hardware hacking and mixed solutions that combined both.
🎁 Afternoon Gifts & Awards
- The winning teams walked away with an Arduino starter kit and a Raspberry Pi board—ready for further experimentation on personal #assistivetech projects.
- Judges (facilitators from FH Technikum Wien and two members of the #PWD community) evaluated prototypes on usability, innovation, and alignment with the persona’s needs.
- Awards were handed out for Best Overall Solution, Most Innovative Hardware, and Best User‑Centred Design.
🌟 Reflections
Seeing the passion and creativity of young makers was pretty cool! The hackathon proved that:
- User‑first design drives meaningful innovation.
- Even a short, focused sprint can yield viable assistive‑tech concepts.
- Providing tangible hardware (Arduino, Raspberry Pi) empowers makers to turn ideas into functional prototypes very quickly!
🙏 Thanks
A big thank you to Hope Tech, the FH Technikum Wien facilitators, and the PWD community members who served as judges. Your expertise and enthusiasm made this day unforgettable.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Laura Wissiak, CPACC
Laura Wissiak, CPACC | Sciencx (2025-08-21T13:22:11+00:00) Mentoring an A11y Hackathon in Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/08/21/mentoring-an-a11y-hackathon-in-nairobi-kenya-5/
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