People with Disabilities (PwD) often encountered unique challenges in the workplace that could impede their daily efficiency and productivity. In our fast-evolving digital world, prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities was paramount. With advancements in Artificial Intelligence, we had powerful tools available to us that could help achieve this goal.

As a UX Researcher at Cisco Webex, one of the key initiatives I worked on was Accessibility Research. I conducted 1:1 user interviews with PwD, referred to as “Fast Feedback Sessions,” to understand their interactions with various collaboration tools, including Webex products, their perception on AI, and their feedback on the accessibility tools and accommodations they required for a seamless experience. I had the privilege of engaging with users of diverse accessibility profiles, including individuals who were blind, neurodivergent, had low vision, or faced upper-body mobility challenges, among others.

During my presentation, I drew from my experience working on ongoing AI-Accessibility research projects at Webex and from the 1:1 interviews I’d conducted with PwD to share their needs, expectations, and perspectives regarding AI in digital collaboration, coupled with practical use cases and examples from my work. I addressed the challenges that People with Disabilities encountered when interacting with technology to foster empathy, raise awareness, and advocate for the importance of designing for accessibility, as well as a few thoughts on how we empowered said users. Through my learnings, I hoped to inspire fellow UX Researchers to help future-proof technologies and drive product teams to design AI systems that were inclusive and provided equal access to all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Furthermore, I shared my experiences in conducting accessibility research, highlighted the lessons learned, and discussed the challenges I’d faced on this journey. I offered valuable tips for researchers aspiring to undertake similar projects and, ultimately, encouraged individuals to become advocates for accessibility.