Accessibility
Usability research plays a key part in implementing accessibility throughout the stages of product design. Beyond just product evaluation, UX research can facilitate an inclusive design process.
UX and accessibility pioneers
Our team members were a part of a groundbreaking study almost 20 years ago to understand mobile phone accessibility and usability issues unique to visually impaired users. We’ve been passionate about inclusive design ever since.
Considerations for A11y research
Recruiting
Preparation
Additional planning to align test plan and session materials to ensure participants have information needed to participate.
Technology
A11y tech checks are critical to for both remote and in-person sessions. Consider if caregiver participation useful and if real-time transcription add-ons or ASL interpreters are needed.
Facility
Evaluate transportation requirements and be aware of considerations for signage, audio signposts for situational awareness, and staff to escort.
Compensation
A11y incentive distribution may need to accommodate for physical or digital payments and non-disclosures procedures for signature.
Our strategic recruiting partnerships support project success
Accessible, or A11y, research hinges on recruiting special populations. Our established relationships with recruiters, research facilities, clinical sites, and other project vendors support our consistently high-quality service delivery and project success. We have years of experience as strategic partners and we pass our cost savings and confidence in their quality along to you.
Low vision
- Central field loss
- Peripheral field loss
- Other field loss
- Night blindness
- Blurred vision
- Hazy vision
- Light/Contrast Sensitivity (Photophobia)
- Low visual acuity (partially sighted)
- Partial blindness
- Blind
- People who use screen readers
Hearing-impaired
- Deaf – cannot use assistive devices
- Degree of hearing loss (mild, moderate, severe, profound)
- Hearing Loss / hard of hearing
- People who use:
- Hearing aids
- Implants
- Read lips
- Use sign language
- Sign language interpreters
- Captioning
- Text messaging
- Telephone amplifiers
- Flashing and vibrating alarms
- Audio loop systems
- Infrared listening devices
- Portable sound amplifiers
- TTY
Low-mobility
- Upper limb(s) disability
- Lower limb(s) disability
- Manual dexterity
- Disability in coordination with different organs of the body
- Lack of strength to walk, grasp, or lift objects.
- People who use:
- Wheelchairs
- Walkers
- Joysticks
- Head pointers
- Trackballs
- Eye- or head-trackers
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
Our experience with special populations
Our recruit experience includes HCPs in virtually every specialty, a variety of patient populations, and individuals with low-vision, hearing-impairments, and low-mobility. Here is a sample of participants we’ve recruited:
HCPs
- Psychiatrists
- Nurses
- Caregivers
- Surgeons
- Pharmacists
- Critical Care Doctors
- Primary Care Physicians
- Nutritionists
- Cardiologists
- Anesthesiologists
- Social Workers
- Medical Assistants
- Neurologists
Patient populations
- Visually impaired
- Schizophrenia
- Alzheimer’s
- Bipolar Disorder
- Diabetes
- Psoriasis
- Crohn’s
- Hemophilia
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Migraine
- Cancer
Accessibility insights
BLOG
CASE STUDIES
10 tips to better support a11y participants during user research
As UX researchers, we play a critical role to ensure all research participants feel comfortable and respected. For those in the accessibility (a11y) community, we are cognizant of the variety of accommodations that may need to be employed throughout the participant...
5 tips for remote UX research with the A11y community
Approximately 15% of the global population identifies as having a disability. Given that so many individuals have accessibility needs, it is essential that we, as user experience (UX) researchers, design products with the accessibility (a11y) community in mind, and...
CASE STUDIES
A global technology company wanted to develop a more in-depth understanding of the travel booking process and travelling experience for populations with auditory and/or visual impairments.
A global telecommunications company was interested in conducting a literature review to inform internal accessibility efforts.
A global technology company wanted to develop a foundational cross-market understanding of the tech ecosystem experience of adults aged 65 years and older, including device use and their views on assistive technology.
A major telecommunications company sought to understand mobile phone accessibility and usability issues unique to visually impaired users.
