Accessible Communication Beyond Captions

University of Minnesota Duluth professors John O’Neill and Jolene Hyppa-Martin are collaborating on a Voice UX research project investigating how synthetic voices can reduce communication barriers in teaching, professional, and public contexts. Prompted by O’Neill’s lived experience with a speech disability, the project uses generative AI to develop a personalized synthetic voice and custom communication app for tutorials, demonstrations, and instructional media. Grounded in crip technology theory, the research examines how designer-led voice technologies can support autonomy, access, and self-representation for people with speech disabilities.

This presentation is geared toward faculty, educators, and instructional staff who want to provide more accessible learning experiences and better understand the limitations of closed captioning systems. The session will be especially valuable for those interested in accessibility, communication access, disability studies, online teaching, and inclusive educational technologies.

The session is intended for a broad audience and does not require advanced technical knowledge. Familiarity with accessibility, design, communication disorders, or AI technologies may be helpful, but the presentation is designed to be accessible to participants from multiple disciplines and experience levels.