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.
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."
Dig deeper—ask the Rosenbot:
















More Videos

"Researchers were obsessed with scientific rigor while designers used balance, feelings, or intuition as their rigor."
Yoel SumitroActions and Reflections: Bridging the Skills Gap among Researchers
March 9, 2022

"If you are silent about your pain, they will kill you and say you enjoyed it."
Zariah CameronReDesigning Wellbeing for Equitable Care in the Workplace
September 23, 2024

"This is a just-do-it moment. Ask for forgiveness, not permission."
Doug PowellDesignOps and the Next Frontier: Leading Through Unpredictable Change
September 11, 2025

"Creating a roadmap built enough space to make meaningful design changes for developers to implement."
Darian DavisLessons from a Toxic Work Relationship
January 8, 2024

"Bringing something to market quickly at scale is time-consuming and expensive—failing early is key to saving resources."
Mike OrenWhy Pharmaceutical's Research Model Should Replace Design Thinking
March 28, 2023

"Design Ops needs to be flexible and change as the organization and culture evolve."
Jacqui FreyScale is Social Work
March 19, 2020

"Our value of connection is brought to life through team offsites and weekly meetings with intentional moments to build connection."
Kim Holt Emma Wylds Pearl Koppenhaver Maisee XiongA Salesforce Panel Discussion on Values-Driven DesignOps
September 8, 2022

"If we think disability as a mismatch between user and environment rather than a medical problem, it becomes easier to understand how accessibility benefits everyone."
Samuel ProulxFrom Standards to Innovation: Why Inclusive Design Wins
September 10, 2025

"The competencies allow managers to celebrate individualism while maintaining consistency across teams."
Laine Riley ProkayHow DesignOps can Drive Inclusive Career Ladders for All
September 30, 2021