University of Twente Research Information · 2006 · 69 citations · 0 references
ArchitectureDesignDisabilityPhysical DisabilitiesUser Experience DesignAccessibility DesignAccessibility NeedsDigital AccessibilityInclusive DesignUsability TestingWeb AccessibilityAccessAccessibility GuidelinesAccessibility TestingAccessible User ExperienceAccessible Web ContentUsability StudiesUser Testing With Disabled UsersWebsite Accessibility
Disabled and elderly users increasingly rely on the Web, yet sites frequently create barriers despite designers’ good intentions and the existence of accessibility guidelines. The article outlines how to conduct user‑focused usability tests with elderly or disabled participants. The authors recommend confirming guideline compliance through usability tests with actual disabled users. Studies show that good intentions alone are insufficient to produce accessible and usable web content for users with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities.
Many disabled or elderly users have embraced the Web as a way to get easier access to information, services, contacts with others, and entertainment. But very often, Web sites are creating barriers for them, at the same time as they are reducing barriers of access. We can safely assume that Web sites are made by designers who have no intention to exclude groups of users from using the site. Our studies, however, have proved that good intentions are not enough to create Web content that is accessible and also usable for people with various kinds of physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. Web designers need to familiarize themselves with accessibility guidelines and apply them properly, but that goal is seldom achieved. Even when the guidelines are applied, a site’s ease of use for people with disabilities needs to be confirmed in a usability test with actual users who have disabilities. This article describes how to conduct user-focused tests with test participants who are elderly or who have disabilities.