Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Accessibility User Research Collective (AURC)?
   The AURC is a collection of people with disabilities within the United States of America that participate in user research (usability studies, focus groups, telephone/interview feedback, etc) on consumer-based products and services.

2. Who is involved with the AURC?
   The AURC is a research partnership between Shepherd Center and Fortune 500 companies, like Microsoft, McDonalds, LinkedIn, Samsung, etc. Shepherd Center recruits participants by entering them into the research database. The research database is used to select participants for specific user research.

3. What is the purpose of the AURC?
   The purpose of the AURC is to match participants to research studies so they can conduct accessibility and usability testing of technology and to investigate current uses, experiences, and attitudes toward specific technologies by people with all types of disability. This research can include 1) product testing and interviews, 2) focus groups. 3) survey research. The purpose of the research is to provide consumer feedback to product teams working on consumer technologies to make them accessible and usable by people with disabilities.

4. How do I become a member of the AURC?
   Email us at AURC@Shepherd.org, or call us at 1-800-582-6360. You will be asked to fill out a short survey with details about your demographics and current technology you use, or don’t use. We use the survey data to select AURC members for specific projects.

5. Is the information I submitted to the AURC database confidential?
   Yes, all of the information entered into our AURC database will remain confidential. Only Shepherd Center staff associated with a particular research study you are involved in will have access to the information you submitted into the AURC database. Please read the Privacy Policies for:

   • Shepherd Center: https://www.shepherd.org/privacy

   • Microsoft: https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement

6. Will I be paid?
   Yes, you will be paid a stipend for working on an AURC research project. We do not pay a stipend to fill out the initial survey to be entered into the AURC. Stipend checks or gift cards will be mailed or emailed to AURC research project participants at the conclusion of the study. AURC members may be asked to submit a W-9 to Shepherd Center staff for tax purposes.

7. Can I decide to review, update or withdraw my membership to the AURC?
   AURC members can review, update or delete entirely their record from the AURC database at any time and without reason. If you feel like you want to review, update or delete your record, please contact us at AURC@shepherd.org, or call us at 1-800-582-3060 and we will amend your profile information as requested from the AURC database.

8. Can I withdraw from a research study?
   Yes, you can withdraw at any time and without any reason. You will still be paid.

9. If I’m selected for a research study will I need to sign consent forms?
   Yes, Shepherd Center staff will electronically send you Informed Consent Forms (ICF) via a form online. The consent forms detail the research project, your rights as a participant, how to withdraw from the study and relevant contact information.

10. Will I need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) if I’m selected for a research study?
    Yes, maybe. As AURC members, you will typically be reviewing products that are not yet available on the market, and as such you may have to sign an NDA. Shepherd Center staff will electronically send an NDA to you ahead of any research study you are selected for.

11. What cookies does our website collect?
    The AURC website was built using Squarespace. When you visit our site we collect cookies for web site analytics, e.g., page views, OS used, region, etc. The following cookies are collected and why they’re used:

    • Crumb - Prevents cross-site request forgery (CSRF). 

    • ss_cid - Identifies unique visitors and tracks a visitor’s sessions on a site

    • ss_cpvisit - Identifies unique visitors and tracks a visitor’s sessions on a site

    • ss_cvisit - Identifies unique visitors and tracks a visitor’s sessions on a site

    • ss_cvr - Identifies unique visitors and tracks a visitor’s sessions on a site

    • ss_cvt - Identifies unique visitors and tracks a visitor’s sessions on a site
      

Every effort has been made to make this website accessible.  If you encounter any difficulties using our website please contact us.