Literature Reviews

Reviewed research papers, articles, and publications relevant to digital accessibility.

• Web Accessibility Evaluation with the Crowd: Using Glance to Rapidly Code User Testing Video

  Mitchell Gordon (2014) — Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper proposes using Glance, a crowd-powered video coding tool, to accelerate the analysis of user accessibility testing videos. User testing with people with disabilities is a recommended component of web accessibility evaluation (as outlined i…

  • crowdsourcing
  • accessibility evaluation
  • usability testing
  • video coding
  • web accessibility
  • WCAG
  • user testing

• Tension, what tension?: Website accessibility and visual design

  Helen Petrie, Fraser Hamilton, Neil King (2004) — Proceedings of the 2004 International Cross-Disciplinary Workshop on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper from City University London directly challenges the widespread belief among web designers that accessible websites must be visually plain and boring. The researchers conducted a large-scale evaluation of 100 websites, starting with automat…

  • visual design
  • user testing
  • web accessibility
  • usability
  • disability
  • WCAG compliance
  • accessibility evaluation

• Evaluation of techniques defined in WCAG 2.0 with older people

  Sergio Sayago, Laura Camacho, Josep Blat (2009) — Proceedings of the 2009 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibililty (W4A)

  This paper evaluates two specific WCAG 2.0 techniques — keyboard-based navigation (Guideline 2.1) and design of link purpose (Guideline 2.4) — with older people aged 65 to 80 in two real-world design projects for old-age pensioner associations in Bar…

  • aging
  • WCAG compliance
  • keyboard accessibility
  • link design
  • user testing
  • usability
  • older adults
  • web navigation

• User tests demonstration: real experiences in measuring web accessibility needs for people with disabilities and the elderly

  Jesus Hernandez Galán, J. Ángel Martinez Usero, M. Jesús Varela Méndez (2009) — Proceedings of the 2009 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibililty (W4A)

  This workshop paper from the ONCE Foundation, CIDAT, and Technosite in Spain describes a practical demonstration of user testing with people with disabilities and elderly participants as part of web accessibility evaluation. Set within the European p…

  • user testing
  • accessibility evaluation
  • aging
  • European accessibility policy
  • UWEM
  • usability testing
  • disability

• Accessibility Approach to Adopting Web Technologies

  Neil King, Damien McCormack (2011) — Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper presents findings from a comprehensive Australian Government-commissioned study by Vision Australia into the accessibility of the PDF format for people with disabilities. The three-phase research combined user consultation (focus groups wi…

  • PDF accessibility
  • assistive technology
  • blind and low vision
  • screen readers
  • document accessibility
  • government accessibility
  • user testing
  • accessibility policy

• Firefixia: An Accessibility Web Browser Customization Toolbar for People with Dyslexia

  Vagner Figueredo de Santana, Rosimeire de Oliveira, Leonelo Dell Anhol Almeida, Marcia Ito (2013) — Proceedings of the 10th International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper presents Firefixia, a Mozilla Firefox browser extension toolbar designed to help people with dyslexia customise the presentation of web content according to their individual preferences. The authors note that while web accessibility effort…

  • dyslexia
  • web accessibility
  • browser extension
  • customization
  • assistive technology
  • reading accessibility
  • user testing
  • cognitive accessibility

• Are Users the Gold Standard for Accessibility Evaluation?

  Amaia Aizpurua, Myriam Arrue, Simon Harper, Markel Vigo (2014) — Proceedings of the 11th Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper critically examines whether user testing with blind users is a reliable "gold standard" for web accessibility evaluation. Drawing on an exploratory study with 11 legally blind participants (10 JAWS users, 1 VoiceOver user, ages 21-64) who …

  • user testing
  • accessibility evaluation
  • blind users
  • screen readers
  • research methodology
  • bias
  • WCAG 2.0
  • participatory design
  • usability

• Creating Accessible Local Government: The Process

  Vivienne Conway, Keith Fitzpatrick (2017) — Proceedings of the 14th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This short paper documents the end-to-end process the City of Cockburn, a local government authority in Western Australia, followed to develop an accessible replacement website. The paper provides a practical 9-step roadmap: (1) embed accessibility i…

  • government accessibility
  • WCAG compliance
  • procurement
  • organizational accessibility
  • case study
  • Australia
  • accessibility audit
  • user testing
  • accessibility training
  • project management
  • web development
  • content management
  • policy
  • mobile accessibility

• Measuring complexity of e-government services for people with low vision

  Aritz Sala, Myriam Arrue, J. Eduardo Pérez, Sandra M. Espín-Tello (2020) — Proceedings of the 17th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper investigates how to measure the complexity of online government forms for people with low vision. The authors recognize that e-government services — accessed primarily through web-based forms — have the potential to greatly benefit people …

  • low vision
  • e-government
  • form accessibility
  • complexity metrics
  • user testing
  • web accessibility
  • online forms