Impact of accessibility barriers on the mood of users with motor and dexterity impairments

Abstract

With the aim of knowing the impact of accessibility problems on persons with motor impairments, we did a user test with this user group. The focus of the test was the analysis of this collective user"s mood relative to different accessibility barriers comparing two parallel web pages: one accessible and another non-accessible. The study identified web forms and Flash elements as the most important aspects for this kind of users. On one hand these elements are useful to users, meanwhile, on the other, they raise many accessibility issues. The analysis of results indicates that persons who use assistive technologies are more efficient and effective interacting with web pages, than users who do not use them independently of the severity of their disability. Overall, users had a positive mood while navigating the accessible website, and were more negative when interacting with the non-accessible website. Our investigation contributes to a better understanding of users with motor impairments confronting accessibility barriers.