Proxy User

A person without a disability who participates in research or usability testing as a stand-in for the intended end user with a disability. Proxies are commonly used in AAC and assistive technology research to circumvent challenges in recruiting and communicating with participants who have complex communication needs. While proxies can provide useful initial data, their involvement is controversial because they cannot accurately replicate the lived experience, motor patterns, cognitive processes, or communication strategies of the actual target users, potentially compromising the validity of research findings.