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Cynthia L. Bennett

Human Centered Design

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About Cynthia

Cindy standing next to a wall painted with purple dots looking at the camera and smiling

Welcome! I am a Ph.D. candidate in the department of Human Centered Design and Engineering (HCDE). at the University of Washington. I am honored that my research is supported by a Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

My research sits at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction, accessibility, and Disability Studies. My dissertation research positions people with disabilities as meaningful yet undercredited contributors to technology design. From their lived experiences, scholarship, and activism, I offer conceptual orientations and accessible practices aimed at fostering conditions for equal participation by, and recognition of, people with disabilities in design fields.

I am advised by Daniela Rosner and David Ribes, and I have also collaborated extensively with Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) professor, Richard Ladner.

My most recent project presents the concept of interdependence as a frame for assistive technology design and research to complement prominent independence-focused technologies. We took up interdependence as it has been developed by disability justice activists and articulate it with case studies from empirical research of people with disabilities building access collectively. Download our ASSETS Conference Best Student Paper and learn more about this and my other projects here.

Contact

  • Email [email protected]
  • Follow me, @clb5590 on Twitter.
  • Connect with me on LinkedIn.
  • Read my Google Scholar page.

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