Using usability testing to assess web accessibility

Fuhrmann, Birgit; Schuler, Martin

Publication type:	Conference other
Type of review:	Peer review (abstract)
Title:	Using usability testing to assess web accessibility
Authors:	Fuhrmann, Birgit Schuler, Martin
et. al:	No
Conference details:	The University of Strasbourg Symposium on Usability and Design, Strasbourg, France, 31 March - 1 April 2023
Issue Date:	1-Apr-2023
Language:	English
Subjects:	Web-Accessibility; Usability; Barrierefreiheit; Website
Subject (DDC):	006: Special computer methods
Abstract:	Web accessibility is a fundamental condition for an inclusive society and is, eventually, beneficial for every user. In order to measure web accessibility, different tools and methods have been developed and adopted. However, web accessibility is still often seen as a mere adherence to standards, e.g., the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). We claim that only actual users with disabilities themselves can conclusively evaluate whether a website is accessible. Thus, WCAG testing must be complemented with usability testing. In recent research we built upon prior WCAG testing results to conduct a usability test to assess the accessibility of our university’s website. We invited 12 users with various degrees of visual impairments to come to our usability lab and bring their own devices to test our website. This unconventional usability test, together with extensive pre- and post-task interviews brought various accessibility problems to light, many of which were not noticed in the WCAG testing. Aside from the actual test results this project delivered us new insights on how to apply UX methods, such as usability testing, to assess web accessibility. The old UX mantra "you are not the user" is even more true when extended to the field of accessibility. Testing with actual users is key, but it has some caveats we did not anticipate beforehand. In sharing our experiences, we want to encourage the UX community to consider working together with users with disabilities and adopting the two-level approach (adherence to standards and usability testing) when assessing web accessibility.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/29544
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	Applied Linguistics
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Translation and Interpreting (IUED)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Barrierefreie ZHAW-Webseiten
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Angewandte Linguistik

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Fuhrmann, B., & Schuler, M. (2023, April 1). Using usability testing to assess web accessibility. The University of Strasbourg Symposium on Usability and Design, Strasbourg, France, 31 March - 1 April 2023.

Fuhrmann, B. and Schuler, M. (2023) ‘Using usability testing to assess web accessibility’, in The University of Strasbourg Symposium on Usability and Design, Strasbourg, France, 31 March - 1 April 2023.

B. Fuhrmann and M. Schuler, “Using usability testing to assess web accessibility,” in The University of Strasbourg Symposium on Usability and Design, Strasbourg, France, 31 March - 1 April 2023, Apr. 2023.

FUHRMANN, Birgit und Martin SCHULER, 2023. Using usability testing to assess web accessibility. In: The University of Strasbourg Symposium on Usability and Design, Strasbourg, France, 31 March - 1 April 2023. Conference presentation. 1 April 2023

Fuhrmann, Birgit, and Martin Schuler. 2023. “Using Usability Testing to Assess Web Accessibility.” Conference presentation. In The University of Strasbourg Symposium on Usability and Design, Strasbourg, France, 31 March - 1 April 2023.

Fuhrmann, Birgit, and Martin Schuler. “Using Usability Testing to Assess Web Accessibility.” The University of Strasbourg Symposium on Usability and Design, Strasbourg, France, 31 March - 1 April 2023, 2023.