It is very easy to lower the priority of, or forget about the user experience for People with Disabilities (PwD). Given that compliance typically dominates the focus of accessibility, where does user experience fit in? In our experience, code reviews and human evaluation can bring to light a number of accessibility concerns with a digital asset. However, only by working with PwD participants, to have them try to accomplish core tasks with these assets, can we uncover issues related to their mental model of how it should work, interaction design, etc. During this session, we will review our approach as well as highlight case study examples. In addition, we will be offering session attendees an opportunity to work hands-on with assistive technology.

1. WHERE DOES UX AND
ACCESSIBILITY MEET?
CHICAGO DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSIVE DESIGN
MEET UP
CHICAGO DESIGN & USER RESEARCH MEET UP
10.27.2016

2. ABOUT ME

5. WHY
ACCESSIBILITY?

6. US PRIVATE SECTOR ACCESSIBILITY LAW
DOJ VS. PEAPOD, SETTLEMENT (2014)
▸ Title III of the ADA prohibits
“discrimination on the basis
of disability in the full and
equal enjoyment of the
goods, services, facilities,
privileges, advantages, and
accommodations of any
place of public
accommodation....”

7. LAW, CONT.
SETTLEMENT: WEB & MOBILE APPS
▸ Make sites and apps conform to
WCAG 2.0 AA and require third-party
content providers to do the same
▸ Solicit feedback from customers with
disabilities
▸ Contract for and perform a third-
party evaluation and consultation
▸ Perform regular automated
conformance testing
▸ Train current staff and make training
part of new employee on boarding
▸ Fix identified issues within 30 days

10. ADA
WCAG
SECTION 508

11. HOW TO
RESPOND?

12. TYPICAL ENGAGEMENT
▸Code Scan
▸Human Evaluation

14. IS THAT ALL WE
CAN DO?

16. VALUE?

19. LOGISTICS

20. ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
TESTING @ HOME OR
WORK?

21. ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
TESTING @ FORMAL
LAB SETTING

22. HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM TYPICAL USABILITY
TESTING?
▸Smaller Scope / Slower Pace
▸Moving from A to B
▸Service Animals

23. FINDING PARTICIPANTS
▸Local NFB Chapters
▸SIGS
▸Universities

24. EXAMPLE VIDEO

25. ▸Usability Testing with PwD highlights issues that are difficult to uncover any other way.
CONCLUSION
▸Focus on Accessibility Improves User Experience
▸Often comes down to compliance vs. delight….

26. “ACCESSIBILITY IS USABILITY UNDER A
MAGNIFYING GLASS.”
— LÉONIE WATSON, SENIOR ACCESSIBILITY ENGINEER,
THE PACIELLO GROUP

27. QUESTIONS?

28. CONTACT
▸ email:
richard@improvedusabilty.com
▸ twitter: @richarddouglass
▸ phone: 614.284.5120

29. IOS & ANDROID RESOURCES
▸ iOS Native
▸ Accessibility Programming Guide for iOS - Apple Developer
▸ UIAccessibility Protocol Reference – Apple Developer
▸ iOS Accessibility - Video and materials from WWDC 2015
▸ Android
▸ Accessibility - Usability - Google material design guidelines
▸ Making Applications Accessible | Android Developers
▸ Inclusive design and testing: Making your app accessible -
Google I/O 2016