Assess Product Accessibility

The "Assess Product Accessibility" template is designed to help product managers evaluate how accessible their product is for unique audiences, including those with disabilities, elderly users, non-native speakers, and others who might require more thoughtful design considerations. This survey provides a structured approach to understanding barriers, usability challenges, and inclusivity gaps. By leveraging this template, product managers can ensure their product supports diverse user needs and fosters a more inclusive experience.

How This Template Benefits Product Managers

Running this survey enables product managers to:

• Identify gaps that might prevent users with specific needs from effectively using the product.
• Gain a deeper understanding of the unique requirements of diverse user groups, such as those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments, or those unfamiliar with the primary language.
• Prioritize improvements that enhance inclusivity and usability.
• Ensure the product aligns with both accessibility standards and the expectations of underserved audiences.

What This Survey Helps Discover

(i) Problems It Solves for Product Teams:

• Usability barriers: Pinpoint features that are difficult for elderly users, non-native speakers, or individuals with disabilities to navigate or understand.
• Design oversights: Highlight design elements that unintentionally exclude certain user groups, such as small fonts, poor contrast, or overly complex layouts.
• Communication gaps: Detect challenges users face due to language barriers or inadequate translation.

(ii) Opportunities It Identifies:

• Inclusive innovation: Discover ways to tailor the product to meet the needs of specific audiences, such as providing alternative input methods or clearer instructions.
• Cross-market appeal: Expand the product’s reach by making it accessible to users who rely on adaptive technologies or need language-specific customizations.
• Enhanced loyalty: Build trust and satisfaction by demonstrating commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.

Example Use CaseConsider an e-learning platform designed to cater to a global audience. Initial feedback reveals that:

• Elderly users struggle with small text and complex navigation.
• Users who rely on screen readers find some course content inaccessible.
• Non-native speakers encounter difficulties understanding jargon-heavy instructions.

Using this survey, the product team identifies actionable improvements such as:

• Increasing font sizes and simplifying navigation.
• Enhancing screen reader compatibility across all content.
• Offering language-specific glossaries and simplified language options.

By implementing these changes, the platform becomes more accessible and user-friendly, leading to increased adoption and positive feedback from diverse user groups.

ConclusionThe "Assess Product Accessibility" template helps product teams design with empathy and inclusivity at the forefront. By addressing the unique needs of diverse audiences, product managers can create meaningful improvements that make their product truly accessible and impactful for everyone.