It's very tempting to hand over responsibility over accessibility to other people. If you're a developer, it's the designer's job. If you're the designer, the developer needs to implement accessibility. If you're the product owner, it's the tester's job to make sure everything works with assistive technology. This is easy. Because if someone else accepts responsibility, then we're off the hook. I see two problems with this: 1. Someone else must always be willing to accept the responsibility...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Accessibility. 13 letters. We thought it was such a lenghty word that we use the numeronym a11y to write it out. It has all these definitions floating around, each one just slightly different than the next. I think the reason why we can't settle on just one is simply because, like the word itself, accessibility is a loaded concept. It's just like a bulky piece of luggage you lug around and when you finally set it down on the floor and start to unpack, it'll likely fill the room. The...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read
Striking the balance between making the easy thing right and making the right thing easy in web accessibility is a crucial discussion. Do you choose the path of least resistance or fight through the discomfort and take the path of inclusiveness? The easy thing is copy pasting some code you found online. It might seem like the quick fix, but it often doesn't take into account the diverse needs of all your users. The right thing is making your website universally accessible. It involves...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read
We universally accept and acknowledge accessibility as a crucial aspect of web development, much like acknowledging terms of service before hitting "I agree." We all nod in agreement, understanding its significance, but it's crucial not to forget that accessibility doesn't magically just happen. It demands intentional effort and continuous commitment. We start projects with a burst of enthusiasm marked by grand gestures, lofty goals and inspiring speeches. We run workshops, empathy labs, and...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read
Neil asked: I work as a UX designer with a bunch of developers in a team. Every time I talk to them about accessibility and disabilities, I get blank stares and crickets back. I can't get through to them. To be honest, I'm a bit confused on disabilities and the more I read, the less I feel I know. How can I help my team, myself included, understand disabilities? Let's break it down. What are disabilities? With over 15% of the world's population experiencing some form of disability, it's safe...
almost 2 years ago • 2 min read
When a car company showcases its latest model, it's the sleek look that catches our attention. We marvel at its futurist shape, the seamless door handles and the headlights that gracefully pop out of the hood. The roar of the motor coming to life gives us chills. We go "Ooooo" and "Aaaaa" at the unveiling, but we don't instantly reach out for the checkbooks. Why? Because we need to know more. How safe is it on the road? What mileage does it get? Will it have enough space in the trunk? How...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read
Yesterday, I encouraged you to find your stride instead of aiming to be the pack leader in accessibility. So where can you begin? Here are three practical suggestions: Your backlog Just look at what's in front of you. If you already have clearly documented accessibility issues in your backlog, that's the ideal starting point. Especially if your users with disabilities highlighted those issues. Clearly they want to use your website and, for some reason, they can't. By fixing these concerns,...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read
There are organisations that are extremely accessibility-conscious. They incorporate accessibility at all levels of the organisation. Their products are thought, designed and developed with accessibility at the forefront. Product design specs include accessibility guidance, the development team ships accessible user interfaces, and each release goes through both manual and automated accessibility testing. They deliberately seek out and evaluate input from users with disabilities. They fight...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read
I started professionally with accessibility sometime in 2021. I was aware of accessibility before then, having done a few things here and there, but I never considered myself an accessibility person. I just really loved the front-end and design and I never thought I'd do anything else with my life. I won't sit here and tell you that something was missing, because there wasn't. For me at least, it was always design, code, test, ship. Rinse and repeat. And I always felt that I was doing enough....
almost 2 years ago • 2 min read