Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Planning and conducting remote usability studies for accessibility
Summary
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
-
•
Over one billion people worldwide have long-term disabilities, making digital accessibility critical.
-
•
Accessibility research must consider a wide range of disabilities including hidden ones like mental health and learning difficulties.
-
•
Pre-research calls increase participant comfort by tailoring communication and understanding assistive technology use.
-
•
Recruitment for accessibility studies takes longer and requires specificity about disability types and assistive technologies.
-
•
External recruitment vendors like AbilityNet, Fable, and Barrier Break specialize in recruiting participants with disabilities.
-
•
Many people with disabilities are motivated to participate if the product is relevant to their daily lives and the research aims to improve accessibility.
-
•
Remote usability tools often lack full accessibility and scheduling tools are particularly deficient for participants with disabilities.
-
•
Screen readers vary greatly in speed and customization; experienced users like Ben can read technical documents at 700 words per minute.
-
•
Communication adjustments such as live captioning and sign language interpreters require extra coordination in remote sessions.
-
•
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."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"If you value innovation and design, then you're investing in creativity."
Dr. Karl JeffriesThe Science of Creativity for DesignOps
January 8, 2024
"Find your senior executive ally who understands design and go talk to them first — it works."
Amy MarquezINVEST: Discussion
June 15, 2018
"The core of it is really putting yourself in that other person’s shoes—it’s basic but essential empathy."
Steve Portigal Chris Chapo Kelly Goto Christian RohrerDiscussion
May 13, 2015
"Dedicated staffing gives designers deep vertical mastery but limits horizontal experience."
Alicia MootyDesign Staffing Models
September 30, 2021
"I am not throwing away your UX."
Ana Maria Montero Barrantes Aditi Dhar Michelle Kaplan Nate Osborne Matt LaurenceThe Authentic UX Talent Show
January 8, 2024
"Simply asking stakeholders what success looks like for them in a project is a powerful way to start meaningful conversations."
Lada Gorlenko Sharbani Dhar Sébastien Malo Rob Mitzel Ivana Ng Michal Anne RogondinoTheme 1: Discussion
January 8, 2024
"We think about research as the magnetic field that attracts every part of the business into alignment around the customer."
Sofia QuinteroThe Product Philosophy Behind EnjoyHQ
March 10, 2021
"Please don’t chop off that engine until the new one is built because you are not the only one on this plane."
Laura KleinUnique challenges of innovation in enterprises
April 23, 2020
"Data analysts and user researchers rarely work together effectively, which is one of the biggest missed opportunities."
Andrew MichaelBuilding a Product Insights Team
March 10, 2022
Latest Books All books
Dig deeper with the Rosenbot
Why is having a shared language about warmth important for integrating this concept in product design?
Why do current capitalist incentives make systemic and community-focused tech solutions difficult to implement?
In what ways did the Shakers design their environment to foster interconnectedness and warmth?