WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Recruiting assistive technology users for usability testing

for

From: Angela Colter
Date: Apr 28, 2010 5:21AM

Thanks to all who responded with suggestions. I thought I'd post a
follow-up for those who were interested.

To recruit employees with disabilities that would affect their web
use, we're not allowed to ask for a list of employees with
disabilities from HR or assistive technology users from IT.

But we are allowed to send out a call for participants on the
company's intranet and contact people directly whom we know use a
screen reader, screen magnifier, etc. We can also contact people who
responded to an earlier call and opted in to receiving such requests.
Using all three approaches, we'll start building a list of volunteers
who are willing to help us make sure the site is accessible.

Angela

On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 12:49 PM, Angela Colter < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> I'm working on a usability testing project for a large financial services
> company and I'd like to include company employees who are assistive
> technology users in our group of participants.
>
> Problem is, the Human Resources department has, in the past, frowned on
> asking these employees to participate because HR doesn't want them to be
> "singled out."
>
> I'm wondering if any of you have experiences dealing with getting permission
> from a company's HR department to involve employees with disabilities in
> your usability testing efforts.
>
> Thanks for any advice you have to share.
>
> Angela
>
> --
> Angela Colter
> Usability Consultant
> 215-921-6677
>
> Web: http://www.angelacolter.com
> Twitter: @angelacolter