Using Real Names of Disabled Participant-Contributors to Practice Citational Justice in Accessibility

TL;DR

This paper advocates for using real names of disabled research participants with consent to promote citational justice and properly acknowledge their contributions in accessibility research.

Contribution

It introduces the practice of identifying disabled participants by name to enhance acknowledgment and discusses considerations for when de-anonymization is appropriate.

Findings

Real names can promote acknowledgment of disabled contributors.

De-anonymization requires careful ethical considerations.

Practicing citational justice can improve inclusivity in research.

Abstract

In accessibility research involving human subjects, researchers conventionally anonymize their research participants to protect privacy. However, a lack of intentionality about who to publicly acknowledge for intellectual contributions to research can lead to the erasure of disabled individuals' work and knowledge. In this paper, I propose identifying disabled research participants by name (with consent) as a practice of citational justice. I share observations from examples of this practice in accessible visualization research, and offer considerations for when it may be appropriate to de-anonymize. Intentional practices of citation offer researchers an opportunity to acknowledge the expertise and intellectual contributions of disabled people in our communities.