UXCHCH Meetup: Including people with access needs in user research

We’re back for 2024!

The MadeCurious team has taken over and we’re ready to host in our shiny new office. We’re looking forward to welcoming you all to our place and the new home of the UX Meet ups.

February Topic: Including people with access needs in user research
Presenter: Dr Chandra Harrison
Summary: Most good UX professionals would hopefully agree that the best designs are based on solid user research. They’d also hopefully agree that the user research should include a representative sample of the population.

So, if at least one quarter of the population in New Zealand has a permanent access need (yes that is right, 24%), then why aren’t we including more people with access needs in user research?

In this session Chandra will discuss

• why a disability perspective in both formative and evaluative research is so vital
• who should or could we include in research activities to get a useful disability perspective
• where do we find these mystical people
• how to accommodate certain needs during research
• when can disabled people be involved in research activities

Bio: Dr Chandra Harrison, Managing Director of Access Advisors, Experts in Digital Accessibility.

For 20+ years Chandra has worked with businesses around the world helping them implement accessible and usable solutions. Chandra combines her theoretical knowledge from a PhD in Human Computer Interaction, extensive industry experience and lived experience of chronic health issues and neurodivergence to provide pragmatic solutions that make a difference for all sorts of people. She enjoys supporting people on their accessibility journeys almost as much as she loves doing research, especially with people with disabilities.

Chandra is passionate about making everyday interactions and experiences more accessible, enjoyable, easier and more efficient. She is the Managing Director of Access Advisors, a Christchurch based company which provides research, lived experience voice, reviews, training and consultancy services in digital accessibility.

This meetup will be recorded on Zoom for those who can’t make it in person and will be made available if you’d like to rewatch the presentation at a later date.

RSVP here

Join Zoom Meeting
https://madecurious.zoom.us/j/81897177202?pwd=WGxQVDl0UnRkbVpkbEhwUTdLUng4dz09
Meeting ID: 818 9717 7202
Passcode: 819333

Agenda:
5:00pm • Doors open, networking + refreshments (sponsored by Canterbury Tech and AWS)
5:30pm • Presentation starts
6:15pm • More networking
7:00pm • Event close

MadeCurious HQ information:

• We have x2 mobility car parks available and wheelchair access into the building
• If you have any accessibility needs please let us know so we can make sure to cater for it
• Limited car parking will be available onsite (MadeCurious. labeled signs) and ample street parking close by the office

A big thank you to our sponsors for this event, Canterbury Tech and AWS! With support from our local community, we can continue to organise and grow these events so it’s very much appreciated.

We have a limited capacity, so please only RSVP if you can definitely make it.