Preparing for the IAAP WAS Exam

Accessibility audits were once my bread and butter, and as a researcher I’ve found that understanding the many aspects of digital accessibility profoundly enhance my ability to conduct usability testing with participants who rely on assistive technologies in several important ways:

• Stronger Discussion Guides: Having a solid grasp of accessibility best practices allows me to craft more meaningful discussion guides that are tailored to the unique challenges faced by users with disabilities.  

• Informed Moderation: During sessions, being fluent in the nuances of assistive technology helps me respond effectively to participant feedback, whether it’s about screen readers, magnifiers, or voice input systems.  

• Insightful Analysis: Accessibility knowledge enables me to better understand the "why" behind user reactions to certain outputs, which translates into richer, more actionable insights for my product development and design partners.  

So, to further demonstrate and enhance these niche researcher/ accessibility SME skills, I’m preparing for the IAAP’s WAS exam.  

I’ll be keeping this blog updated with my progress, study tips, and resources I find along the way. Shout out to those whose blogs and guides have inspired me—I’ll be linking to them as I go!