feat: Added README.md and CONTRIBUTING.md

Author: Ashwath Krishnan

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+# Contributing to PCHA Dashboard
+
+Thank you for your interest in contributing to the **PCHA Dashboard**, a PyShiny-based accessible health data visualization tool.
+
+---
+
+## How to Contribute
+
+### 1. Fork and Clone
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/[your-username]/pcha-dashboard.git
+cd pcha-dashboard
+```
+
+### 2. Set Up Environment
+
+```bash
+python -m venv venv
+source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+```
+
+### 3. Run the App Locally
+
+```bash
+shiny run --reload app.py
+```
+
+---
+
+## Guidelines
+
+- Follow PEP8 and Python best practices
+- Use `maidr` for all key data visualizations to ensure accessibility
+- Clearly label all charts and filters
+- Use semantic HTML where applicable for screen reader compatibility
+
+---
+
+## Accessibility Standards
+
+We aim to provide full access to users who are blind or have low vision. Please:
+
+- Ensure graphs are compatible with `maidr`
+- Include alt-text or captions where possible
+- Avoid relying solely on visual cues (e.g., color-only distinctions)
+
+---
+
+## Deployment
+
+Deployment is handled through [shinyapps.io](https://www.shinyapps.io/). If you are a maintainer:
+
+1. Ensure the app runs correctly locally
+2. Deploy using `rsconnect` with Python support or push updates to the hosting environment
+
+---
+
+## Reporting Issues
+
+If you find a bug or have a feature request, open an issue at:  
+[https://github.com/xabilitylab/pcha-dashboard/issues](https://github.com/xabilitylab/pcha-dashboard/issues)
+
+Thank you for helping make this dashboard better and more inclusive.

Dashboard/__pycache__/app.cpython-310.pyc

@@ -1,2 +1,50 @@
-## PCHA Dashboard app
+# PCHA Dashboard
 
+The **PCHA Dashboard** is a PyShiny-based web application for visualizing user health data collected through the PCHA app. This tool extends the functionality of the mobile application by providing accessible visual analytics, including step count, calories burned, and distance walked over time.
+
+## Live App
+
+The dashboard is hosted at:  
+[https://xabilitylab.shinyapps.io/pcha-dashboard/](https://xabilitylab.shinyapps.io/pcha-dashboard/)
+
+## Features
+
+- Interactive visualization of health metrics
+- Date-based filtering for time-series analysis
+- Designed with accessibility in mind using the `maidr` visualization library for blind and low vision users
+- Responsive and accessible interface using PyShiny
+
+## Technologies Used
+
+- [PyShiny](https://shiny.posit.co/py/)
+- `maidr` (for accessible graphs)
+- Python, Plotly, and Pandas
+
+## Getting Started
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+- Python 3.8+
+- Packages: `shiny`, `maidr`, `pandas`, `plotly`, `datetime`, `numpy`
+
+### Run Locally
+
+```bash
+# Create a virtual environment
+python -m venv venv
+source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
+
+# Install dependencies
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+
+# Run the app
+shiny run --reload app.py
+```
+
+## Contributing
+
+We welcome improvements in UI, accessibility, or visualization logic. Please see the [CONTRIBUTING.md](./CONTRIBUTING.md) file for more details.
+
+## License
+
+MIT License