Baljko, MelanieAkhavan Kazemzadeh, Sarah2022-12-142022-12-142022-07-212022-12-14http://hdl.handle.net/10315/40671This thesis addresses how to make Open-Source (OS) Assistive Technology (AT) more inclusive. The thesis employs a Research Through Design (RtD) methodology on a particular case study: the Switch Activated Writing System (SAWS) that is in transition to an Open-Source project (OSSAWS). Analysis of the literature reveals the potential to leverage persona representations into OS AT. This thesis includes three RtD iterations which focus on successive modifications of persona representations and markdown templating, converging on a final design concept called Persona Inclusion for open Source assistive tecHnology Innovation (PISHI). The PISHI concept centers on the representation of family-level dynamics, crucial in the AT domain and design innovation. The thesis develops persona representations for the users of OSSAWS following the PISHI Concept. This thesis presents a rationale for the generalizability of the PISHI concept, which will provide a crucial means for increasing inclusion in Open-Source (OS) Assistive Technology (AT).Author owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.Computer scienceDesignElectronic Thesis or Dissertation2022-12-14PersonaInclusionAccessibilityAssistive technologyDesignHCDHuman-Centered DesignRtDResearch through DesignGroup personaFamily personaPISHI personaShortcomings of personaInclusive designAnti-ableistOpen-source assistive technologyOpen-sourceUsabilityUX designUser ExperienceUXDouble diamond of designSAWSOSSAWSMarkdown templateMarkdown personasMarkdownPISHI ConceptPISHI representationPrototyping personasAnti-ableism