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Planning and conducting remote usability studies for accessibility
Summary
There’s a lot to consider if you’re going to do accessibility research effectively and respectfully. Using examples from previous user research and accessibility studies she’s conducted throughout her career, Rebecca shares lessons learned and guidance to consider when planning and executing remote usability testing with participants with disabilities, including the four specific disability categories: visual, motor, hearing and cognitive.
Key Insights
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Over one billion people worldwide have long-term disabilities, making digital accessibility critical.
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Accessibility research must consider a wide range of disabilities including hidden ones like mental health and learning difficulties.
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Pre-research calls increase participant comfort by tailoring communication and understanding assistive technology use.
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Recruitment for accessibility studies takes longer and requires specificity about disability types and assistive technologies.
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External recruitment vendors like AbilityNet, Fable, and Barrier Break specialize in recruiting participants with disabilities.
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Many people with disabilities are motivated to participate if the product is relevant to their daily lives and the research aims to improve accessibility.
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Remote usability tools often lack full accessibility and scheduling tools are particularly deficient for participants with disabilities.
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Screen readers vary greatly in speed and customization; experienced users like Ben can read technical documents at 700 words per minute.
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Communication adjustments such as live captioning and sign language interpreters require extra coordination in remote sessions.
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Inclusive research involves focusing on product issues and accommodations rather than probing participants about their disabilities.
Notable Quotes
"Digital accessibility means making your online products usable by everyone regardless of how they access them."
"One in five people in the UK have a disability; it's about 1 in four in the US and 1 in 5 in Australia."
"People with disabilities are more willing to participate in studies if it's to make a product they use more accessible."
"If your product isn’t accessible to assistive technology, participants might blame themselves instead of the product."
"Hidden disabilities like mental health and ADHD often cause people not to disclose their needs, so anonymity is key."
"Using recruitment vendors requires very detailed and specific descriptions of accessibility needs for success."
"There’s no fully accessible scheduling tool for recruiting participants with access needs; much manual effort is involved."
"When communicating with sign language interpreters remotely, remember to address the participant directly, not the interpreter."
"Some participants prefer tasks to be direct and focused, without lengthy scenario explanations."
"Inclusive research means framing questions about how the product could be improved, not about the user’s disability."
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