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496 CHAPTER 16 Working with research participants with disabilities

Table 16.1 Typical Types of Inclusion Criteria When Doing HCI Research
Involving People With Disabilities
Inclusion Criteria

Technology
− Which assistive technologies do the participants use or not use?
− How many years of experience do participants have using a specific technology
(assistive or otherwise)?
− How many hours a week do participants utilize a specific technology?
− Do participants have experience with certain brands of assistive technology, or do
they use it in certain combinations?
Education
− What level of education is required? Secondary school (high school)?
An undergraduate (bachelor's) degree? A graduate degree?
− Is formal training in computer usage (e.g. software applications, OS, keyboarding)
required for participation?
Employment
− Must the participants be employed in certain job roles?
− Must the participants be involved in paid employment?
Disability
− Is there a certain medical diagnosis that is required? (e.g., Trisomy 21 or Mosaic
Down Syndrome?)
− Is there a certain severity of a disability required for participation (e.g., no residual
vision or some vision?)
− Can participants be allowed to use aids (e.g., are people who use cochlear implants
acceptable for the research study?)
− How long must participants have had the disability (e.g., born Blind or lost vision as
an adult?)
− Have participants previously participated in rehabilitation training activities (e.g., such
as orientation and mobility for Blind people?)
− Do participants use any electronic prostheses?
Communication
− Must participants be able to independently communicate?
− Must participants be fluent in sign language or Braille?

of Blind adults are fluent in Braille (which tends to surprise most people who don't
work regularly in the blindness community).
It is important to note that, it may be hard to get detailed information about the
medical status of someone with a disability (e.g., their cognitive level, their visual
acuity, or range of motion), because of sensitivity involved in sharing personal health
data, or national laws that limit the sharing of health data. However, there can be
substitutes, described in assistive technology terms, for ensuring the same qualities
in participants. For instance, rather than stipulating the visual acuity data, partici-
pants can be recruited by asking for those who are “screen reader users, unable to
use screen magnification” meaning that there is close to no residual vision. Or ask-
ing about the use of tools such as magnifiers and closed-circuit television (CCTV),