University of Michigan School of Information professor Sile O’Modhrain has earned honorable mention for the U-M James T. Neubacher Award. 

The award celebrates U-M faculty, staff, students or alumni for significant achievements in empowering people with disabilities, advocating for or advancing disability rights and/or increasing the accessibility of programs and services to promote disability inclusion. 

O’Modhrain joined UMSI in 2011. Prior to that, she worked as a researcher and faculty member both in the U.S. and abroad, including at the prestigious MIT Media Lab, Media Lab Europe, and at the Sonic Arts Research Center at the Queen’s University of Belfast.

At U-M, O’Modhrain is a leader in addressing the digital divide in access to information for blind and visually impaired individuals. Her research explores topics of accessibility and computing, as well as human-computer interaction. At UMSI and in the Department of Performing Arts Technology at the U-M School of Music, Theatre and Dance, her courses focus on auditory and haptic perception, as well as movement for interaction design for students learning motion capture techniques. 

“Professor O’Modhrain has made significant contributions that have not only advanced disability inclusion but have also paved the way for future innovations in accessibility,” says UMSI associate dean for faculty and professor Erin Krupka. “Her work stands as a testament to the profound impact that dedicated individuals can have in promoting equity and access for people with disabilities.” 

For more than a decade, O’Modhrain has worked on designing interactive systems that help blind and visually impaired people interact with visual media. Her company, New Haptics Corporation, focuses on the development of full-page refreshable braille displays that are low cost. Her research has been recognized by the country’s top venues, and her 2024 paper, “Born Accessible Data Science and Visualization Courses: Challenges of Developing Curriculum to be Taught by Blind Instructors to Blind Students” contributes to a growing body of work on accessible data science and visualization education. 

“O’Modhrain’s dedication and achievements inspire our entire community, and we are grateful for her continued contributions to advancing accessibility and promoting equity,” UMSI dean Andrea Forte says. 

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Sile O’Modhrain is a professor of music at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance and a UMSI professor.  Learn more about Sile O’Modhrain by visiting her UMSI faculty profile.