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.
Getting started with accessibility research
Summary
In partnership with Fable, watch this panel discussion aimed at UX researchers on how to get started with accessibility research. Featuring industry experts from Discover, LEGO, and Ally Financial, this session demystifies what accessibility research entails, and demonstrates how inclusive design isn’t possible without the participation of people with disabilities. Together, we identify the common barriers, strategies for modifying research methodologies for accessibility, and ways to gain internal buy-in for accessibility research within your organization. Moderator: Elana Chapman Panelists: Divyen Sanganee, Li Wen Huang, Annabel Weiner
Key Insights
-
•
Accessibility research does not require prior expertise; focus on assistive technologies used rather than disability medical definitions.
-
•
Wizard of Oz testing can simulate screen reader experience on prototypes to gather early feedback before code is developed.
-
•
Engaging with internal employee resource groups and external disability communities builds trust and facilitates participant recruitment.
-
•
Participatory design elevates users with disabilities as co-designers and experts in assistive technology use.
-
•
Leadership sponsorship and educational videos showing real assistive tech use help build organizational buy-in.
-
•
ROI data shows investing time early in accessibility research saves significant engineering fixing time post-launch.
-
•
Decoupling user needs from medical disability labels helps navigate privacy and recruitment challenges.
-
•
Accessibility audits ensure compliance but usability research drives genuine user experience improvements; both are essential.
-
•
Temporary and situational disabilities plus aging populations vastly broaden the accessibility ecosystem beyond permanent disabilities.
-
•
Shifting mindset from empathy to understanding and barrier removal empowers better inclusive design without paternalism.
Notable Quotes
"You don’t need to be an expert in accessibility before doing user research with people with disabilities."
"People with disabilities are very appreciative and willing to help us learn because they understand we may not understand their challenges."
"Wizard of Oz testing involves someone pretending to be a screen reader by reading content and roles out loud."
"Participants are usually very forgiving if you’re not a perfect screen reader as long as you explain what you’re doing."
"Accessibility is really just improving the usability for everyone, not just for people with disabilities."
"For every hour a UX designer invests in accessibility pre-launch, they save up to four hours in engineering post-launch."
"If you’re not doing anything about accessibility, you’re discriminating against your future self."
"It’s less about empathy and more about building an understanding of barriers and user needs."
"Assistive technology is a tool; we need to make sure we enable that tool to do its job."
"Accessibility audits check the box for compliance; usability testing ensures a good user experience."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"The market is a cultural mosaic diversifying faster than many teams can anticipate."
Kevin BethuneGatekeepers and Servant Leadership
January 30, 2020
"Design is often seen as the wireframe people, a subsidiary of product rather than a strategic partner."
Alfred KahnA Seat at the Table: Making Your Team a Strategic Partner
November 29, 2023
"Early on, getting stakeholders to attend syncs felt like pulling teeth, but later it became their favorite meeting."
Elena Naids Liza McRuerThe Power of Difficult Conversations: A Case Study on How We Introduced Design Ops in the Federal Government Space
October 2, 2023
"These steps aren’t just research tactics – they could be life savers when employed well."
Amanda Kaleta-Kott Lea Martin, PhDThe Joys and Dilemmas of Conducting UX Research with Older Adults
March 11, 2022
"It’s better to be honest about it: it’s actually very hard. It’s not impossible, but it’s hard and it takes a long time."
Fredrik MathesonFirst-time users, longtime strategies: Why Parkinson’s Law is making you less effective at work – and how to design a fix.
June 8, 2016
"Mobile provides more detailed analytics that help developers iterate accessibility improvements."
Sam ProulxMobile Accessibility: Why Moving Accessibility Beyond the Desktop is Critical in a Mobile-first World
September 8, 2022
"Robust action means making early moves to preserve flexibility and open up opportunity, not trying to forecast 50 steps ahead."
Peter LevinSolve a Problem Here, Transform a Strategy There: Research as an Occasion for Expanding Organizational Possibility
March 25, 2024
"The UX team is never the keeper of all knowledge of the customer; the whole company owns the experience."
Janelle EstesUX Research Trends
January 28, 2021
"You can never be sick enough to help the sickest people."
Deanna ZandtThe Unspoken Complexity of “Self-Care” with Deanna Zandt
July 21, 2022
