Impact of web accessibility barriers on users with hearing impairment

ABSTRACT

Several users tests were carried out with people with a hearing impairment to evaluate the impact of different web accessibility barriers on two similar web sites, one accessible and the other not accessible. The tests focus was to analyze user's mood when faced to different accessibility barriers. Results show "complex text" and "multimedia content without text alternative" barriers as the most critical for users with this profile. Our investigation contributes to a better understanding of users confronting accessibility barriers, and to emphasize the need of web content authors writing content using plain language and providing captions or sign language to video content.

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Index Terms

• Human-centered computing

  • Human computer interaction (HCI)

• Social and professional topics

  • Computing / technology policy