Teaching accessibility in a CS0 class

This paper describes a CS0 course taught at Furman University for both majors and non-majors in the Spring of 2018 and Spring of 2019. The course introduces students to the discipline of Computer Science using accessible technology as an application area. This area has a rich domain of interesting examples on which to base discussions of core computing topics for new majors who need a basic understanding of accessibility issues. It is also an interesting interdisciplinary area that appeals to many different majors. It is important for both majors who will be creating new technologies as well as non-majors who will be creating digital content using technologies to understand the issues surrounding disability and accessible technology. The paper will describe key computing concepts and how they were presented in the context of accessibility. Student comments in end-of-course reflections highlight how students plan to apply what they have learned in future pursuits.