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
"Steve Jobs’ product matrix simplified Apple’s sprawling portfolio and refocused their efforts, which arguably saved the company."
Jorge ArangoMeeting of the Waters: Designing for Successful Inorganic Growth
August 12, 2021
"We literally want to advance this field by creating space for really good professional conversations to happen."
Bria Alexander Louis RosenfeldOpening Remarks Day 1
March 25, 2024
"Even though we are virtual, we are still a community and obligated to treat each other with respect and kindness."
Louis Rosenfeld Bria AlexanderOpening Remarks
March 27, 2023
"Designers are change agents. This is part of your passion and what gets you up in the morning."
Denise Jacobs Nancy Douyon Renee Reid Lisa WelchmanInteractive Keynote: Social Change by Design
January 8, 2024
"We need to reject the notion that work is our only identity."
Tess DixonC'mon Get Happy
September 29, 2021
"Mentioning incentives can build trust by signaling reciprocity."
Emily Williams Nora FioreWhen UX Research and Institutional Racism Collide: A Case Study
March 12, 2021
"False positives in research give teams misleading evidence that their solutions are working."
Leisa ReicheltThe Five Dysfunctions of Democratized Research at Scale
March 30, 2020
"The obsession with precise carbon calculations is less helpful than focusing on relative impact to guide improvements."
James ChudleyDecarbonising User Journeys: How minimising enables us to do more with less
February 19, 2025
"Design producers love their creative tools and want reporting to be automated, not manual."
Aurobinda Pradhan Shashank DeshpandeIntroduction to Collaborative DesignOps using Cubyts
September 9, 2022
