Recruit users
Seek feedback from individuals across the entire spectrum of abilities. We recommend partnering with disability advocacy organizations to gain diverse perspectives.
When recruiting participants for user test sessions, we recommend striving for the following makeup for your testers:
- A majority of target users who are close to the edges, that is, people with disabilities, older adults, or those with specific needs or limitations.
- A larger minority of users across the spectrum of abilities.
- A small number of users with no disability.
For example, when testing for users with visual impairments, you might seek 60% of participants who are fully or legally blind, 30% with low vision, and 10% not identifying as having any visual impairments.
Formulate questions
Identify specific questions for users to answer when they interact with the prototype. Be clear about the kind of feedback you are looking for.
Conduct usability testing
Observe users interacting with your prototype. Ask them to complete tasks relevant to your application.
Prioritize feedback from target users on the edges, that is, people with disabilities, older adults, or those with specific needs or limitations. Addressing the needs of these kinds of users often unlock more radical features that also have strong curb-cut effects, that is, features that end up benefiting all users.