Accessible UX Research, eBook Now Available for Download – Smashing Magazine

Smashing Library expands again! We are very happy to announce our newest book, Accessible UX Researchit’s now available for download in e-book formats. Michele A. Williams takes us on a deep dive into the real world of UX testing and provides a roadmap for including users with different skills and needs in each phase of testing.

But the truth is, you don’t need to do UX testing or be a UX professional to get the most out of this book. Michele gives detailed descriptions of the Assistive technology we should all be familiar with.plus disability etiquette, common mistakes when creating accessible prototypes, and much more. You will refer to this book again and again in your daily work.

This is also your last chance to get your print copy at our discounted pre-sale price. We look forward to print copies starting. shipping in February 2026. We know you’ll love this book, but don’t just take our word for it: we asked some industry experts to read it. Accessible UX Research also:

“Accessible UX Research It is presented as a vital and necessary resource. By addressing disability at the Research layer of the user experience, you help set an equal and equitable tone for products and features that resonates throughout the rest of the creation process. The book provides a solid frame for all aspects of conducting research efforts, including not only process considerations but also, importantly, the mindset required to approach the work.

This is the book I wish I had when I started my accessibility journey. “It is a gift and I feel very lucky that Michele has chosen to share it with all of us.”

Eric Bailey, accessibility advocate

“User research in accessibility is non-negotiable to truly meet user needs, and this book is a critical piece in the puzzle to do and integrate that research into day-to-day accessibility work.”

Devon Pershing, author of The Accessibility Operations Guide

“Our decisions as developers and designers are often based on recommendations, assumptions, and biases. This usually doesn’t work, because checking off lists or working solely from our own perspective can never truly represent the depth of human experience. “Michele’s book gives you the strategies you need to conduct UX research with diverse groups of people, challenge your assumptions, and create truly great products.”

Manuel Matuzović, author of the Web Accessibility Cookbook

“This book is a vital resource for inclusive research. Michele Williams expertly analyzes key concepts and guides readers through disability models, language, and etiquette. strong focus on real world applications equips readers to conduct inclusive and impactful research sessions. By emphasizing diverse perspectives and proactive inclusion, the book makes a compelling case for accessibility as a fundamental principle rather than an afterthought. It’s a must-read for researchers, product manufacturers, and advocates!

Anna E. Cook, Accessibility and Inclusive Design Specialist

About the book

The book is not a checklist that you must complete as part of your accessibility work. it’s a Practical guide to inclusive UX researchfrom start to finish. If you have ever felt unsure of how to include disabled participants or worried about “getting it wrong,” this book is for you. You’ll gain clear, practical strategies to make your research more inclusive, effective, and reliable.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

• Plan the investigation that includes disabled participants from the beginning,
• Recruit participants with disabilities,
• Facilitate sessions that work for a variety of access needs,
• Ask better questions and avoid unintentionally biased research methods,
• Generate trust and security on your team around accessibility and inclusion.

The book also questions common assumptions about disability and urges readers to rethink what inclusion really means in UX research and beyond. Let’s move beyond compliance and start conducting research that reflects the full diversity of your users. Whether you’re in industry or academia, this book gives you the tools (and mindset) to make it happen.

High quality hardcover, 320 pages. Written by Dr. Michele A. Williams. Cover art by Espen Brunborg. Shipping of the printed edition starting in February 2026. Ebook now available for download. Download a free sample (PDF, 2.3 MB) and Reserve your printed copy at the pre-sale price.

Content

1. Disability Mentality: For inclusive research to be successful, we must first confront our mindsets about disability, typically influenced by ableism.
2. Disability Diversity: Accessibility doesn’t just refer to blind screen reader users; Disability categories help us analyze and process the diversity of disabled users.
3. Disability in the stages of UX research: Participants with disabilities can and should be part of each phase of research: formative, prototype, and summative.
4. Recruitment of disabled participants: Recruiting disabled participants isn’t always easy, but that simply means we need to learn strategies about where to look.
5. Designing your research: While our goal is to influence accessible products, our research execution must also be accessible.
6. Facilitate accessible study: Preparation and communication with your participants can ensure that the logistics of your study go smoothly.
7. Analyze and report with precision and impact: How you communicate your findings is just as important as collecting them in the first place, so prepare to be a storyteller, educator, and advocate.
8. Disability in the field of UX research: Inclusion is not just for research participantsis important for our colleagues Plus, as blind UX researcher Dr. Cynthia Bennett explains.

Who is this book for?

Whether you’re a UX professional conducting research in industry or academia, or more broadly part of an engineering, product, or design function, you’ll want to read this book if…

1. You have been entrusted improve the accessibility of your productbut you need to know where to start to facilitate it successfully.
2. You want to establish a culture for accessibility in your company, but you’re not sure how to make it work.
3. you want move beyond WCAG/EAA compliance to established accessibility practices and inclusion in research practices and beyond.
4. you want improve your general accessibility knowledge and be seen as an accessibility specialist for your organization.

About the author

Dr. Michele A. Williams is the owner of MAW Consulting, LLC – Making Accessibility Work. Her 20+ years of experience includes influencing top technology companies as a senior user experience (UX) researcher and accessibility specialist and earning a PhD in Human-Centered Computing focused on accessibility. An international speaker, published academic authorand patented inventorHe is passionate about educating and advising on technology that does not exclude users with disabilities.

Technical details

Community Affairs ❤️

Producing a book takes a long time and we couldn’t do it without the support of our wonderful community. A big thank you to the members of Smashing for their kind and continued support. The e-book is and always will be free for Crushing Members. Plus, members get a friendly discount when purchasing their print copy. Just saying! 😉

More great books and gifts

Promoting best practices and providing you with practical tips to master your daily coding and design challenges has always been (and will be) the main goal. core of everything we do in Smashing.

Over the past few years, we have been very lucky to have worked together with some talented and thoughtful people in the web community to publish their great experience as Printed books that stand the test of time.. Trine, Heather and Steven are three of these people. Have you checked out his books yet?