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Web Accessibility Hybrid Evaluation Methodology (Wa11y-HEM) Research Study | University of Maryland
Released: 3/4/2024
Author: University of Maryland
Study Link: https://umdsurvey.umd.edu/jfe/form/SV_8kaZBuixk0YuXWe
Who We Are:
The team conducting this study is part of the Maryland Initiative for Digital Accessibility (MIDA). MIDA is a collaborative effort that brings together researchers, designers, developers, and educators with the shared objective of making digital technologies accessible to everyone. The initiative actively involves members of the disability community, along with private and public partners, to contribute to technology development, public outreach, and advocacy in the field of digital accessibility.
About the Study:
The Wa11y-HEM Research Study is focused on the critical need for accessible web-based information, which is a cornerstone for inclusion in various sectors like education, health, employment, commerce, and civic engagement. The study acknowledges that people with disabilities, those lacking digital skills, or individuals facing situational impairments, often encounter barriers and potential harms due to inaccessible web content. Improving web accessibility is beneficial not only for people with disabilities but also for the general population.
A key challenge addressed by this study is the perceived complexity, time consumption, and expense associated with evaluating and remediating web accessibility. Despite the existence of various standards and guidelines (e.g., Section 508 Trusted Tester, Access Board's Baseline, Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation, RGAA), there is still a gap in efficiency, time, and cost-effectiveness in these methodologies. The Wa11y-HEM study aims to develop a hybrid approach that combines manual and automated methods for evaluating web accessibility. The goal is to streamline the accessibility evaluation process, making it more feasible, flexible, and scalable, and to incorporate new tools and techniques.
Participant Recruitment:
The study is currently seeking individuals who are actively involved in the web-based content publishing process, have knowledge about evaluating accessible web content, and are affiliated with a disability rights organization. The team encourages sharing of recruitment content through listservs or personal networks to individuals who fit these criteria.
Study Details:
Participants must be at least 18 years old and involved with a disability rights organization. They will be compensated with a $50 Tango gift card for their participation. The interviews can be conducted remotely or in-person if the participant is in the DC area.
Link to the Study:
For more information and to sign up for the study, interested individuals can visit the following link:
Web Accessibility Hybrid Evaluation Methodology Study Sign-Up
https://umdsurvey.umd.edu/jfe/form/SV_8kaZBuixk0YuXWe
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