UK Disability Computing Study: Cash Incentives Offered

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Wanted: Internet users for accessibility study in England

Serco Usability Services is an independent consultancy specialising in the 'usability' of technology products such as the Internet, interactive television and mobile phones. We help our clients by testing their products with ordinary users and then using their feedback and our expertise to suggest how they can be made easier to use.

As part of our work, we are also interested in how 'accessible' products and services are to people with disabilities. More and more companies are asking us to test their website with a range of disabled people in order to help them ensure that their services are available to all of their customers. We are finding it very difficult to recruit participants for the study and we wondered if you could help in any way.

We are interested in following groups of Internet users:

· People with low or no vision who access the Internet using a screen reader or Braille output.
· People with limited vision who use screen magnification in order to access the Internet.
· People with various forms of colour blindness.
· People with dyslexia or learning impairment who have difficulties in understanding the written word.
· People with hearing impairment whose first language may be British Sign Language.
· People with dexterity impairment who are unable to use a mouse or keyboard, making use of access technology such as voice input (voice recognition), head/mouth pointer or switches to access the Internet.

The volunteers will be visited at their home or place of work – wherever they have access to the Internet using their access technology. We are flexible in time and location to make it most convenient for the volunteer. The participants will also receive a cash incentive for taking part.

Any suggestions on how we could go about locating people who would be interested in taking part would be gratefully received. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to take part or if you have any questions.

Marie Markowski, Consultant for Serco Usability Services, London

Tel: 020 7421 6483

E-Mail: Marie.Markowski@usability.serco.com

URL: www.usability.serco.com