Talk
Accessibility and inclusive design are often discussed through learner-facing content: captions, contrast, keyboard navigation, screen readers, and accessible documents. This session looks at accessibility from another angle: designing a tool that coaches could use in the field to support athletes with disabilities in a physically demanding, real-world learning environment.
In this case study, I will share the design and impact of Slope Notes, a mobile coaching app I designed and built in Base44 for Special Olympics ski teams in Groton and Haverhill, Massachusetts. I brought to the project my background in instructional design, user-centered design, software design, and Scrum-based product development, along with direct experience as a Special Olympics ski coach.
Slope Notes was designed for use on cold ski slopes by volunteer coaches wearing gloves, managing ski gear, monitoring safety, watching athletes in motion, and needing to capture meaningful observations quickly. The app supported single-handed use, voice input instead of typing, photo and video capture, simple goal-setting, secure cloud-based sharing, and near-real-time updates for authorized coaches.
The design also addressed the specific needs of coaching Special Olympics athletes. Privacy, appropriate access, consistency between coaches, reinforcement of effective coaching strategies, and athlete confidence were central considerations. Coaches could document goals, observations, supports, media, and progress in a way that helped athletes see their own improvement and make positive changes in their skiing abilities over time.
As Slope Notes was adopted, other Special Olympics teams in New England expressed interest after seeing demonstrations and the positive effect on athletes. The app also supported pre- and post-assessments on a NASTAR course at Gunstock Mountain in New Hampshire. After seeing how the team used slope-side data to document improvement and inspire athletes, Gunstock provided access to the NASTAR course at no cost.
This session will show how inclusive design can move beyond compliance and become a practical force for field usability, athlete confidence, skill development, coaching continuity, privacy-aware information sharing, and community support.
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe how accessibility and inclusive design apply to real-world performance-support tools, not only learner-facing courses or documents.
2. Identify physical and environmental constraints that should shape accessible mobile design, including cold, gloves, gear, movement, limited dexterity, divided attention, and safety.
3. Explain how voice input, photo/video capture, simplified workflows, goal-setting, secure sharing, and strategy documentation can support athletes and students with disabilities.
4. Apply lessons from Slope Notes to their own learning tools, coaching systems, field training programs, or performance-support applications.
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