The main objective of the project was to introduce training on accessible and inclusive user testing with people with disabilities into UX design and related higher education courses. The project also aimed to empower people with disabilities by making them aware of their rights and enabling them to take a more active role in usability testing, collaborating with public and private sector organizations on an equal partnership basis. General Objective 1: To establish a framework for developing a training course for UX design students in higher education on inclusive and accessible user testing with people with disabilities. General Objective 2: To create and test a training course on inclusive and accessible user testing involving people with disabilities. General Objective 3: To generate user scenarios to teach students how to apply theoretical knowledge on user testing in a practical context, directly involving and empowering people with disabilities. General Objective 4: To stimulate the uptake of training on inclusive and accessible user testing in European higher education curricula and to facilitate access to the labour market for UX design students.
We applied for this project to address three key needs. First, we aimed to enhance the skills of UX design students by providing training on inclusive and accessible user testing, especially involving people with disabilities, a gap we identified in current higher education programs. This ensures that future UX professionals can design for all users. Second, we sought to equip students with the necessary skills to meet the growing demand in the labor market, driven by the European Web Accessibility Directive, which mandates accessible products and services. Lastly, we aimed to empower people with disabilities in user testing processes by addressing gaps in ethical and sustainable practices, ensuring their proactive involvement and recognition as experts in testing.