Last Updated: May 22, 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
AFTER the research session
- Write up your observations on accessibility issues
- Discuss findings with your team and/or other accessibility specialists in #accessibility-help