Are you a person who is blind or has very low vision? We are seeking people with visual impairment (blindness or low vision) who use smartphones, white canes, and service animals to give feedback on their personal experience navigating in the community.

The Accessibility User Research Collective (AURC) is looking for people with visual impairment to take part in a research project being conducted by Microsoft. The goal of this study is to improve the usability and accessibility of technology that helps people with visual impairment navigate their physical surroundings. Researchers want to better understand how different navigational tools and technologies interact with one another and about how people with visual impairment discover, adopt, and decide to abandon apps they use for navigational purposes.

To be eligible you must:

1. Have a visual impairment (blindness or very low vision/legally blind)

2. Use a white can or service animal

3. Use a smartphone

4. Use a screen reader

5. Be 18 years of age or older

6. Prefer English for reading and writing.

7. Be a member of the Accessibility User Research Collective (AURC)

Participants in this study will be asked to answer questions in a one-hour interview which will include demographic andtechnology use questions, and questions about their experience using white canes, service animals, and mobile apps for navigational purposes. If selected, participants will be asked to complete a diary log for 7 days, which will include a few questions about daily navigation. Participation in this study may take about 60 minutes. After the interview is completed, each participant will receive a $50 stipend for their time and effort. Participants that complete the diary log will receive an additional $25 stipend.

ABOUT US

The Accessibility User Research Collective (AURC) is a national community of people with all types of disabilities interested in helping make technology more accessible and usable. The AURC is organized and maintained by assistive technology researchers at Shepherd Center.

To learn more about and join the AURC, please visit: www.accessibilityuserresearchcollective.org

ABOUT SHEPHERD CENTER

Shepherd Center, located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, is a private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spine and chronic pain, and other neuromuscular conditions.

Interested? Questions? Please contact Nicole Thompson at AURC@shepherd.org.