UMSI students help develop report-a-barrier app to support campus accessibility
Monday, 08/31/2026
Community members and visitors at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and medical campuses can help enhance campus accessibility by reporting physical and digital barriers using a new app developed by the university.
Access U-M allows users to report access barriers, such as inoperable power door openers, inaccessible websites or applications and missing or illegible wayfinding signs, in real time directly from their mobile phones.
University of Michigan School of Information students collaborated with the Disability Equity Office, an office within the Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office, to develop the app last spring.
The team included Master of Science in Information students Kelvin Chang, Rachel Gonzalo, Lily Madojemu, Andy Xu and Zichen Zang.
“The Access U-M app provides real-time reporting of access barriers with the push of a button, allowing community members to join our efforts to make U-M accessible for all,” said Allison Kushner, director of the Disability Equity Office and ADA coordinator for the university.
Previously, individuals could call or use an online webform to report barriers to the Disability Equity Office. The new application allows users to use phone features such as geolocation and their camera to describe where a barrier exists more precisely and the nature of that barrier. Users can also submit reports anonymously.
The Disability Equity Office was selected as one of five projects for the winter 2026 user-centered agile development (SI 699) course, in which students work with clients to conduct research, prioritize features and develop a product or application on the fast-track.
“I’m very proud of what the students accomplished last semester. We teach them the agile software delivery process in the first few weeks of class and then monitor and coach the students as they independently run the project throughout the semester,” said Stephanie Brenton, lecturer III in information.
Access U-M is available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Read the original story by Dana Elger in the University Record.
