QUESTIONNAIRE INFORMATION SHEET
Understanding the experiences disabled web users have when encountering accessibility overlays

Introduction:

We would like to invite you to take part in our research study. Before you decide if you wish to take part, we would like you to understand why the research is being undertaken and what it will involve. Please take your time to read the following information carefully and feel free to ask any questions. If you agree to take part in the study, you will be asked to indicate consent by continuing to the demographic’s questionnaire. Thank you for your time.
 

Purpose of the Research:

Accessibility overlays are an increasingly common website feature intended to improve a website’s accessibility. Some examples of features that accessibility overlays can offer include screen reader functionality, voice navigation, contrast and text color adjustments, highlighting links, pausing animations, and adjustments to text spacing. AccessiBe, AudioEye, EqualWeb, and UserWay are a few example companies who sell accessibility overlays. Companies who purchase accessibility overlays for their website typically do so to meet legal accessibility requirements. However, it is unknown how well these overlays address accessibility for disabled users. We would like to survey website visitors who use accessibility features and/or assistive technology to access the web, and what users’ experience visiting websites known to recently use accessibility overlays. We are interested in understanding the impact that overlays have on the usability, accessibility, and general user experience. We will select 1 individual out of a maximum of 2000 participants to get a $100 cash prize. You will also have the opportunity to provide an email to indicate your interest in participating in a follow-up interview study.
 

Explanation of Procedures:

Today, you will be asked to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire will initially provide you with a question to record your consent and interest in taking part in the main study before you can access the main questions. 
You will first be asked demographic questions that will support us in being able to describe the demographics of our sample population who complete this questionnaire. Then you will be asked about your experience with accessibility overlays.
You can withdraw by closing the questionnaire if you decide you no longer want to take part—your responses will not be recorded if you do not select submit at the end.
 

Who can take part in the study?

We are seeking people who are 18 years or older who identify as having one or more disabilities and who have encountered and/or used accessibility overlays on websites.

An accessibility overlay is an increasingly common website feature that is added by the website creator with the intent to improve a website’s accessibility. Some examples of features that accessibility overlays can offer include screen reader functionality, voice navigation, contrast and text color adjustments, highlighting links, pausing animations, and adjustments to text spacing.
 

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

In our experience, people enjoy taking part in research as they are helping to contribute to new knowledge. Your involvement will help us understand and collect data about the current limitation of accessibility overlays.
 

How long will the questionnaire take to complete?

The questionnaire should take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete.
 

What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?

We don’t anticipate any risks to you but there may be some we have not anticipated. 
 

Use of my information

We will follow ethical and legal practices. All information will be anonymized and handled in confidence. You do not have to complete the questionnaire, and you can change your mind at any point before submitting your responses. We will use your data on the basis that it is necessary for the conduct of research, which is an activity in the public interest.

Anonymized data and the results of the study may be used in future publications and in the event of publication may also be incorporated as open access into databases alongside the paper (e.g., stored on the ACM digital library https://dl.acm.org). In doing this, we hope the dissemination of our findings will inform the future professional practice of researchers and company approaches to improving website accessibility.
 

Withdrawal from the Project:

Your participation in this research project is completely voluntary. You may decide to stop participating in this project at any time without penalty. You are free to leave or stop at any time. Refusal to participate in this study or withdrawal from this study will have no effect on any services you may otherwise be entitled to.
 

Whom to Contact with Questions:

This project has been reviewed by the RIT Institutional Review Board. If you have any concerns or questions about the conduct of this research project or about your rights as a research participant, you may contact:

Heather Foti, Associate Director, Office of Human Subjects Research
Phone Number: 585-475-7673, Email: hmfsrs@rit.edu

You may also contact the research team:

Dr. Kristen Shinohara, Associate Professor
School of Information, Rochester Institute of Technology
Departmental Phone Number: +1 585-475-6197, Email: kristen.shinohara@rit.edu 

Dr. Garreth Tigwell, Assistant Professor
School of Information, Rochester Institute of Technology
Departmental Phone Number: +1 585-475-6451, Email: garreth.w.tigwell@rit.edu