AccessHack 2023

Visit the Access Hack Official Website

Register Now: Please note, only projects from registered attendees will be considered.

About the challenge

At AccessHack, we encourage participants to embark on a journey of understanding disability and creating technologies to make the world more accessible. In this hackathon, your team will have 48 hours to prototype a new assistive technology or a solution to an accessibility barrier experienced by people with disabilities. You can focus on any disability or multiple disabilities. Prototypes can be anything from paper prototypes to digital mock-ups to fully realized code and hardware—lean into your strengths and show off your accessibility skills.

When planning your project, we strongly encourage you to connect with people with disabilities to learn firsthand about what would make the world more accessible to them. If you or someone on your team is disabled, consider projects that will address your own accessibility barriers. 

Get started

1. 
   Research and Connect: Reach out to local disability organizations, support groups, or individuals with disabilities to set up interviews or focus group discussions. Take the time to understand different types of disabilities and the unique challenges they present.


2. 
   Identify Key Barriers: Based on the insights gathered, identify the most significant accessibility barriers that must be addressed. It could be related to mobility, communication, digital access, or any other aspect where technology can make a difference.


3. 
   Brainstorm Solutions: Collaborate with your team to brainstorm solutions to the identified barriers. Think creatively about how technology, whether in the form of software, hardware, or a combination, can be harnessed to overcome these challenges.

During The Hackathon

1. 
   Prototype Development: Use your learnings and insights to develop prototypes that address the identified barriers. These prototypes can take the form of mobile applications, digital interfaces, physical devices, or even system-level changes.


2. 
   Feasibility and Creativity: Evaluate the feasibility of your prototypes, ensuring they are practical and implementable. Simultaneously, challenge yourself to think outside the box and bring creative ideas to the table, pushing the boundaries of what is currently possible.

After the Hackathon, consider taking our prototype one step further and seek feedback from disabled individuals. Incorporate their input and iterate on your designs to enhance their effectiveness and inclusivity. Mentors and organizers from AccessHack will be available to help make your prototypes a reality. 

By engaging in conversations with disabled individuals and learning about their experiences, you will gain valuable insights that will inform the development of meaningful and impactful prototypes. Remember, the ultimate goal of AccessHack is to empower disabled individuals and promote inclusivity through innovative solutions. Best of luck on your journey of discovery and innovation!

July 14, 2023 - July 23, 2023

Northeastern Unversity

Online

$350