Possibly controversial statement here.
It’s not my job to help you publicize your accessibility-related survey.
At least once a week, I get a request from a well-meaning graduate student asking me to help them get more responses to their survey. If this sounds like you or someone you know, consider the following items:
1. Respect our time: Well-known accessibility advocates are inundated with requests. We focus on advancing accessibility in meaningful ways, and we can’t amplify every survey that crosses our path. Also, most of us have day jobs, so our time is limited.
2. Do your homework: Ensure your survey is well-designed, relevant, and respectful of people with disabilities. Have you tested it with disabled users? Does it follow best practices for accessibility? Does it use people first language? Is it written in plain language? If the answer to any of these is no, the chances of me plugging your survey are zero. Also, I will inform you (sternly) that you should fix your survey before further publicizing it.
3. Compensation matters: Just because we are passionate about accessibility doesn’t mean our work is free. If you value the input of your survey takers, show it by offering compensation for our time and expertise. Even just offering a small gift card is enough to show you care. We have to pay rent too.
4. Contribute, don’t just take: If you’re asking for help from the disability community, think about what you’re giving back. Are you using the results to drive real change, or is it just an exercise for your thesis? If the results aren’t being shared, again, my answer will be no.
Accessibility is not just a buzzword for someone’s graduate degree; it’s a commitment. If you’re serious about improving your work, engage with the community thoughtfully and respectfully.
Alt: A beautiful lady putting on a white suit in an office space with a written caption: “need disabled users to complete your survey? That’s not my job today. “