Uncovering the role of expectations on perceived web accessibility

Compliance to accessibility standards does not guarantee a satisfying user experience on the Web. Both unmet content and functionality expectations have been identified as central factors on the lack of coverage shown by guidelines. We expand on this by examining the role played by subjective dimensions, and particularly expectations, on the perception that users have on web accessibility. We conducted a study with 11 blind users to explore how these expectations shape the perception of web accessibility. Our preliminary findings corroborate that expectations can affect the perception of web accessibility. Additionally, we find that expectations on the Web are built up on previous experiences and prejudices. What is more, we reveal that these expectations are not only shaped by previous Web usage, but also by real life experiences. Our outcomes suggest that user expectations should be considered in user tests.