Why inclusive research matters

Good UX research is what separates products people struggle with from products that feel effortless. It removes guesswork, surfaces problems early, and points teams toward the right solutions. But research only does its job when it reflects the full range of the people who will actually use the product. Testing with users of different abilities and needs is one of the most effective ways to build something that works for more people — and it doesn't have to be a burden on your budget or timeline.

Smashing Magazine's new release, Accessible UX Research by Dr. Michele A. Williams, is a practical roadmap for exactly that kind of work. Williams draws on years of experience to walk readers through planning and executing inclusive research, covering assistive technology, disability types, and how to weave accessibility into every stage of the design process. The book is aimed at anyone building digital products, no matter their starting point:

  • New to research: You'll get practical tips for making your studies more inclusive from the start, along with guidance on asking better questions, recognizing your own biases, and making the most of limited time and budget.
  • Accessibility professionals: You'll find a detailed look at various assistive technologies, how to set up testing environments that support them, and how to record and share results in ways that actually influence the finished product.
  • Developers, managers, and curious minds: The book provides the historical context, clear descriptions, and cultural grounding needed to make sense of the accessibility and inclusion recommendations you encounter every day.

This isn't a checklist to tick off as part of your compliance work. It's a hands-on guide to inclusive research from beginning to end — for anyone who has ever felt uncertain about including disabled participants or worried about "getting it wrong."

Inside, you'll learn how to:

  • Plan research that includes disabled participants from the start.
  • Recruit participants with disabilities.
  • Facilitate sessions that accommodate a variety of access needs.
  • Ask better questions and avoid unintentionally biased research methods.
  • Build team confidence around accessibility and inclusion.

What's inside

The book's eight chapters form a complete tour of inclusive research practice:

  1. Disability Mindset: Successful inclusive research starts with confronting our own mindset about disability, which is typically shaped by ableism.
  2. Diversity of Disability: Accessibility is about more than screen reader users — understanding disability categories helps unpack the full diversity of disabled users.
  3. Disability in the Stages of UX Research: Disabled participants should be part of every phase: formative, prototype, and summative.
  4. Recruiting Disabled Participants: Finding participants isn't always easy, but it's a matter of knowing where and how to look.
  5. Designing Your Research: If the goal is accessible products, the research itself must also be accessible.
  6. Facilitating An Accessible Study: Preparation and communication with participants keep study logistics running smoothly.
  7. Analyzing and Reporting with Accuracy and Impact: Communicating findings matters as much as gathering them — plan to be a storyteller, educator, and advocate.
  8. Disability in the UX Research Field: Inclusion isn't just for research participants; it matters for colleagues too, as explored by blind UX researcher Dr. Cynthia Bennett.

An appendix rounds things out with summaries and tips for optimizing your testing environment and your interactions with participants.

Availability

The book runs 324 pages. Cover art is by Espen Brunborg. A free sample PDF (2.3MB) is available for download.

The book is shipping worldwide again — after several months of customs and tariff issues affecting US customers, Smashing has resolved the problem and all printed books are once more available internationally.