Accessible UX Research: A New Smashing Book by Michele Williams

Smashing Magazine has released a new book focused on making UX research more inclusive and accessible, written by Dr. Michele Williams.

Smashing Magazine has just released its newest book, "Accessible UX Research" by Dr. Michele Williams, and it's now shipping worldwide. This comprehensive guide tackles one of the most overlooked aspects of digital product development: making user research truly inclusive from the start.

A look inside the book. The left page has a teal color. The right page says ‘Accessible UX Research by Michele A. Williams, PhD’ in the same teal color.

Good UX research forms the foundation of great products. It removes guesswork from our designs and helps us identify problems before they become costly mistakes. Yet many research practices unintentionally exclude users with disabilities, creating products that work well for some but fail others entirely.

The book addresses this critical gap by providing a clear roadmap for inclusive research practices. Dr. Williams draws from her extensive experience as a Senior UX Researcher and Accessibility Specialist at top tech companies, combined with her PhD in Human-Centered Computing focused on accessibility.

What Makes This Book Different

Unlike typical accessibility checklists, "Accessible UX Research" serves as a practical guide that covers the entire research process. Whether you're just starting with research or you're an experienced accessibility professional, the book offers valuable insights tailored to your level of expertise.

For newcomers, you'll find practical tips for making research more inclusive, guidance on asking better questions, understanding personal biases, and maximizing limited time and budget. For accessibility veterans, there's deep coverage of assistive technologies, testing environment setup, and strategies for recording and sharing results that create real impact.

Key Learning Areas

The book covers eight comprehensive chapters that guide readers through:

Developing the right mindset for inclusive research
Understanding the diversity of disability
Integrating accessibility throughout the UX research lifecycle
Recruiting participants with disabilities effectively
Designing accessible research studies
Facilitating sessions that accommodate various access needs
Analyzing and reporting findings with accuracy and impact
Understanding disability in the UX research field

Practical Applications

What sets this book apart is its focus on real-world application. You'll learn how to plan research that includes disabled participants from the start, facilitate sessions that work for a range of access needs, and build trust and confidence around accessibility within your team.

The book also challenges common assumptions about disability and pushes readers to rethink what true inclusion means in UX research and beyond. It's not just about compliance—it's about creating research that reflects the full diversity of your user base.

The open book on a wooden table, with a cup of coffee next to it. The left page shows a diagram visualizing the key elements of strong research studies. The right page is about recruiting disabled participants.

Expert Endorsements

Industry leaders have praised the book's practical approach. Eric Bailey, an accessibility advocate, notes that it "helps to set an equal and equitable tone for products and features that resonates through the rest of the creation process." Devon Pershing, author of The Accessibility Operations Guidebook, emphasizes that "user research in accessibility is non-negotiable for actually meeting users' needs."

Manuel Matuzović, author of the Web Accessibility Cookbook, points out that our decisions are often based on assumptions and biases that don't represent the depth of human experience. Michele's strategies help conduct research with diverse groups, challenge assumptions, and create truly great products.

Book Details

The book spans 324 pages and includes a foreword by Jared Smith of WebAIM, plus an extensive interview with a disabled researcher. It features cover art by Espen Brunborg and includes practical references in the appendix that you'll return to again and again.

Available formats include:

Print + eBook: $44.00 (quality hardcover, free worldwide shipping, 100-day money-back guarantee)
eBook only: $19.00 (DRM-free, available in PDF, ePUB, and Kindle formats)

The eBook is free for Smashing Members, who also receive a discount on the printed copy.

The open book on a wooden table. The spread shows a table summarizing different types of assistive technologies, with a description of each assistive technology and information about its audience.

Why This Matters Now

With increasing awareness of digital accessibility requirements and the growing recognition that inclusive design benefits everyone, "Accessible UX Research" arrives at a crucial time. It provides the tools and mindset needed to move beyond compliance and create research practices that genuinely serve all users.

Whether you work in industry or academia, this book equips you with practical strategies to make your research more inclusive, effective, and reliable. It's an investment in building better products that work for everyone, not just the majority.

You can download a free sample (PDF, 2.3MB) or order your copy directly from Smashing Magazine. After months of dealing with customs and tariff issues, they're happy to announce that all books, including this new release, are once again shipping worldwide.

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