How the American Council of the Blind uses GitHub Copilot

Key Concepts

• Accessibility-First Development: Designing software with screen reader compatibility as a foundational requirement.
• GitHub Copilot: An AI-powered coding assistant used to generate code, automate workflows, and troubleshoot accessibility issues.
• JAWS (Job Access With Speech): A screen reader software for Windows that allows blind or visually impaired users to read the screen with a text-to-speech output or a refreshable Braille display.
• ACB Community Builder: A custom desktop application designed to automate administrative tasks for the American Council of the Blind.
• Hosting Portal: A feature within the application designed to manage roles and logistics for over 100 weekly community events.

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Overview of the ACB Community Builder

Michael, a Membership Engagement Specialist at the American Council of the Blind (ACB), developed the "ACB Community Builder" to streamline the management of the organization's extensive event schedule. By leveraging AI-assisted coding, he successfully transitioned from manual, time-consuming processes to an automated system that supports the organization's mission of serving blind and visually impaired individuals.

Technical Implementation and Accessibility

The core challenge addressed by this project was the lack of accessibility in standard administrative tools, which often feature unlabeled buttons or non-functional edit fields that are incompatible with screen readers like JAWS.

• Custom Keystroke Integration: Michael utilized GitHub Copilot to write code that implements specific, predictable keystrokes. Because he authored the code, he ensured that every interaction—from editing existing events to adding new ones—is fully accessible and optimized for his workflow.
• Dialogue Management: The application uses custom-coded dialogues for event creation. By controlling the code, Michael eliminated the common frustration of "unlabeled edit fields," ensuring that the screen reader provides accurate feedback for every input field.

Operational Efficiency: The Hosting Portal

A significant expansion of the tool was the addition of the "Hosting Portal." This feature was developed specifically to address the logistical complexity of managing over 100 community events per week on a global scale.

• Role Tracking: The portal allows the team to track various roles required for each event.
• Scalability: By automating the tracking of these roles, the tool ensures that events run smoothly and seamlessly, reducing the administrative burden on the staff.
• Workflow Automation: The application allows users to navigate by specific weeks (e.g., selecting the week of April 12th) and view a granular list of daily events, providing a centralized dashboard for all organizational activities.

Key Arguments and Perspectives

• Empowerment through Coding: Michael’s experience highlights that AI tools like GitHub Copilot act as a force multiplier for developers with disabilities. It allows them to build bespoke solutions that are inherently accessible, rather than relying on third-party software that may not meet accessibility standards.
• Efficiency Gains: The transition from manual tracking to the ACB Community Builder has saved the team hours of labor, shifting the focus from administrative maintenance to community engagement.

Conclusion

The ACB Community Builder serves as a case study in how accessible software development can be democratized through AI. By combining his domain expertise as a Membership Engagement Specialist with the coding assistance of GitHub Copilot, Michael created a highly efficient, fully accessible ecosystem that supports the American Council of the Blind’s goal of managing a high volume of global events with precision and ease. The project demonstrates that when developers build for their own accessibility needs, the resulting software is often more intuitive and efficient than generic alternatives.