Thinking Out Loud: Centering the Voices of Disabled People Seeking Accurate Health Information
Presented by Sonal Sathe
Date and Time
2025 Disability Summit
Date: Tuesday, April 22
Lecture: 3:30-3:45p
Q&A: 3:45-3:55p
Presentation Materials

Abstract
Disabled people are rarely asked what their experience is like with various technologies. These include internet searches they may conduct while they are using their assistive technologies like include screen readers or voice to text. Yet, it is their very voices that are the most needed with respect to understanding barriers to health information access while using technologies. This presentation will show the need for and benefits of using the think-aloud methodology with disabled people and, if available, preliminary results of such a study.
About the Speaker
Sonal Sathe (she/her)
Sonal Sathe (she/her) is a PhD Candidate in Virginia Tech’s Individualized Interdisciplinary iPhD program. Her current research focuses on disabled people’s user experience of technology to seek healthcare information. This research fits into a lengthy background of reducing health disparities.
Contact Information: sss20a@vt.edu
