Position Paper for UPA 2001 Workshop: Exploring Measurement and Evaluation Methods For Accessibility
Participant: Shawn Lawton Henry
My experience includes in all phases of user interface design for software and web. I have lead user interface design projects for several small and medium projects over the last decade, from initial analysis, through rollout and next version redesign. My evaluation work includes some formal usability testing, and much more heuristic evaluation of products from early prototypes through existing products.
My direct experience with people with disabilities and user interface design includes:
§ working with people with visual and physical disabilities in informal evaluations of products, primarily web interfaces
§ usability testing with participants with multiple sclerosis
§ personal experience interacting with computers with reduced visual, physical, and cognitive abilities
Most of my issues in evaluating for accessibility revolve around practical implementation.
§ How can we effectively implement accessibility evaluation within cost and time limitations?
§ What are the pitfalls to watch out for in evaluating for accessibility with limited representation (e.g., being careful not to design for only for one person’s use of one version of one screen reader)?
§ What are the issues surrounding including usability test participants with disabilities (e.g., how do we need to modify the test protocol, are there any additional considerations such as having assistive technologies available in the test lab)?
§ What elements of accessibility can be evaluated with automated tools? With heuristic evaluation to standards? What requires usability testing?
§ How does accessibility fit into usability and how can we optimize evaluation for both?
Shawn Lawton Henry, Director of R&D at Optavia Corporation, is a nationally recognized consultant and speaker in usability and accessibility. She has an educational background in computer science, communications, and human factors, and currently helps organizations optimize web design for usability and accessibility. Her experience includes all phases of user interface design, including analysis, graphical user interface (GUI) and web design, and usability testing. Shawn has developed workshops on the process of UI design; UI standards; usability evaluation and testing; and accessibility of web interfaces, software, and consumer products. She actively advances work in the accessibility and standards fields as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Trace R&D Center, as a contributor to ISO work on accessibility standards, and as a member of HFES/HCI 200, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Technical Standards Committee developing software interface standards for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Shawn is particularly interested in bringing together the needs of individuals and the goals of organizations in the design of human-computer interfaces.