Mentoring is an important process that helps bring new researchers into the ASSETS community and to ensure that papers are accessible to everyone. Mentors can assist in paper writing and accessible submission information. This page provides information for Mentors and Mentees for ASSETS 2024 including expectations and applications.

Mentorship: Help from seasoned researchers is available through the ASSETS Mentoring Program. You may receive advice on a submission in any of the submission categories provided by ASSETS. If you would benefit from mentoring because you are new to presenting your research, new to the category you would like to submit to, or seek assistance in preparing an accessible paper, please consider applying for mentoring help. The deadline to request a mentor is March 20, 2024.

• Information for Mentees (What is Mentoring?)
• Information for Mentors (Volunteer to be an ASSETS 2024 Mentor)
• Further Information on ASSETS Mentoring

Help from seasoned researchers is available through the ASSETS Mentoring Program. You may receive advice on a submission in any of the submission categories provided by ASSETS. If you think you would benefit from mentoring because you are new to presenting your research, new to the type of category you would like to submit to, or simply find preparing an English-language or accessible paper to be difficult, please consider applying for mentoring help.

Mentoring typically pertains to the process of composing the submission, with one to two communication sessions. After reviews are received, mentees are encouraged to contact their mentor again and seek advice on interpreting the reviewers' comments. Even if the submission is accepted, this final session may help the mentee produce an even better camera-ready version.

Mentors provide feedback to authors on a draft of their paper and particularly highlight how an ASSETS paper could differ from other conferences in expectations. Mentors are not co-authors on the paper, their role is to provide advice during the writing process. Mentoring is not a pre-requisite for submitting a paper to ASSETS. It is meant to help bring in researchers to our community.

Mentors can also provide advice on creating more accessible papers for submission. It is important to the ASSETS community that the research we produce is accessible to everyone and at every stage of the publication process. However, producing accessible research articles, especially in PDF format, can be challenging. If you are new to this process, refer to the instructions on Creating Accessible PDFs. If you are new to producing accessible documents or are looking for advice on how to make your research more accessible, please join our mentoring program. This is not a service to make your paper accessible for you, but accessibility mentors will help all authors get the advice and resources they need for the process.

To apply, please use the mentoring request form to enter the following details so we can match you to a suitable mentor. Please submit a 200 word (max.) abstract summarising your paper and its intended contribution.

The deadline to request a mentor is March 20, 2024.

After we introduce you and your mentor via email, you will need to send your submission to that person and discuss it together, for example, by email or video call.

Mentoring is an important process that helps bring new researchers into the ASSETS community. Potential mentors should have had at least one accepted paper at past ASSETS and be willing to spend the time as indicated above. If you are interested in being a mentor, please email the mentoring chairs (mentoring-assets24@acm.org) as soon as possible, to indicate your area of expertise.

Suggested Communication Process

Once we have put the mentor and mentee in touch, they are free to choose whatever communication method they prefer. One possibility might look like this:

1. The mentee sends the submission by email to the mentor to give her/him/them a chance to read it in advance, either via a ‘shared’ document platform (e.g. Google Docs, Overleaf) or as a file;
2. The mentor and mentee set up an appointment for a video call by email,
3. The pair discuss the document (e.g. Google Docs, Overleaf);
4. At the scheduled time, the mentor and mentee establish the video call, and open the shared file in a web browser

That way they can talk about the submission and simultaneously edit it, instantly seeing what the counterpart does – almost as good as meeting face-to-face!

Participating in the ASSETS Mentoring Program does not guarantee that ASSETS will accept your submission. However, most individuals who have used the mentoring service at ASSETS or at the CHI conference where it began have reported positive experiences and an improved understanding of what reviewers require in general.

Authors should also refer to the General Writing Guidelines for Technology and People with Disabilities when preparing submissions.

For further information or any questions regarding the mentor program, please contact the Mentoring Chair Timothy Neate at mentoring-assets24@acm.org.