Last Updated: June 25, 2026
Introduction
This guide provides tips and resources for supporting participants using assistive technology (AT) during user research sessions. Whether you're preparing for a session, troubleshooting in real time, or documenting findings afterward, this resource will help you navigate common AT tools and situations. (For questions or feedback on this page, contact @Cindy Merrill on Slack.)
The Accessibility Digital Experience (ADE) Team is available to assist — reach out on Slack via @accessibility-de in #accessibility-help, sign up for weekly office hours (Wednesdays 3–4 pm ET), or submit an intake ticket in GitHub.
BEFORE the research session
- Find out what specific AT will be used by the research participant
- Prepare (if possible) by familiarizing yourself with the basic commands for that AT
- See list below of resources by specific AT
DURING the research session
- Join the Slack thread for this session in #feedback-backchannel in the OCTO slack so you can communicate with the moderator and other observers
- Open general resource links in your browser:
- Open resource links for the specific AT that will be used in the session:
- Apple Zoom (built-in magnification app) instructions
- Fusion keyboard shortcuts
- JAWS keyboard shortcuts
- Microsoft Magnifier (built-in magnification app) instructions
- NVDA keyboard shortcuts
- Narrator keyboard shortcuts
- TalkBack on Android gestures and keyboard shortcuts
- VoiceOver on iOS gestures
- VoiceOver on iPad with external keyboard
- VoiceOver on Mac keyboard shortcuts
- ZoomText keyboard shortcuts
- Speak up if you notice a potential issue (e.g., didn't share sound while sharing screen with a desktop screen reader)
- Speak up if asked by the moderator or participant for help with AT, or if you notice an issue that you can help with
- If you get stuck, see if someone in the ADE team can help by mentioning
@accessibility-dein your #feedback-backchannel thread - At the end of the session, speak up if the participant was a Veteran and an AT user who struggled with their AT during the session because you could suggest VA Blind Rehabilitation…
- You or the moderator could ask, “Did you know that the VA provides lifetime care coordination for Veterans with visual impairments?”
- If the participant is interested, you or the moderator could say, “Our recruiting partner can email you information about how you can call VA Blind Rehabilitation, and they will connect you with someone in your local area that can help.”
- After the session, the moderator should ask their Perigean point of contact to email the participant (see the VA Conversation Guide Template) for details
AFTER the research session
- Write up your observations on accessibility issues
- Discuss findings with your team and/or other accessibility specialists in #accessibility-help