How can we build in accessibility that everyone can use

Building accessibility into design is crucial to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can use and interact with products, websites, applications, and physical spaces.

1. Understand User Needs: Start by understanding the diverse needs of your potential users. Consider individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. Conduct user research and gather feedback from individuals with disabilities to identify their specific challenges and requirements.
2. Follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): WCAG is a widely accepted set of guidelines for making web content more accessible. It provides recommendations for creating accessible websites and digital content. Adhering to WCAG guidelines will help you address various accessibility issues.
3. Provide Alternative Text (Alt Text): For images, charts, and other visual elements, include descriptive alt text. This text is read by screen readers and helps visually impaired users understand the content.
4. Use Descriptive Headings: Properly structured headings (h1, h2, h3, etc.) improve navigation and comprehension for screen readers and users who use keyboard-only navigation.
5. Ensure Keyboard Accessibility: Design your interfaces to be operable using a keyboard alone. Some users rely on keyboards due to motor disabilities or other reasons.
6. Contrast and Color: Use sufficient color contrast between text and background to make content readable for people with visual impairments. Avoid relying solely on color to convey information.
7. Caption and Transcribe Media: Provide captions and transcripts for audio and video content to assist users with hearing impairments.
8. Avoid Automatic Media Playback: Allow users to control when audio or video content starts playing to prevent unexpected noises that may be disruptive.
9. Offer Text Resize Options: Include the ability to resize text without loss of functionality or content layout.
10. Test with Assistive Technologies: Regularly test your designs with screen readers, voice commands, and other assistive technologies to ensure they function as intended.
11. Avoid Pop-ups and Timed Content: Users with disabilities may have difficulty navigating or interacting with pop-ups or content that disappears after a certain time.
12. Design for Clear Navigation: Organize your content and interface in a logical and intuitive manner to make navigation easier for all users.
13. Error Handling and Validation: Provide clear error messages and validation cues to assist users in filling out forms or completing actions.
14. Offer Multiple Ways to Access Information: Present information in different formats, such as text, images, and audio, to accommodate different learning preferences and abilities.
15. Consider Physical Accessibility: If designing physical spaces, ensure they are wheelchair accessible and have features like ramps, elevators, and tactile signage for visually impaired individuals.

Who is involved

Creating accessible designs involves collaboration among various stakeholders throughout the design and development process.

1. Designers: Are at the forefront of incorporating accessibility features into the product or service. They are responsible for creating an inclusive user experience by implementing accessible design principles and adhering to guidelines like WCAG.
2. Developers: Responsible for translating the design into a functional product or application. They play a crucial role in ensuring that the design’s accessibility features are effectively implemented in the code.
3. User Experience (UX) Researchers: Conduct user testing, gather feedback, and conduct usability studies, including individuals with disabilities. They help identify pain points and areas where accessibility improvements are needed.
4. Accessibility Experts: Having dedicated accessibility experts or consultants is beneficial. They can provide guidance on best practices, perform accessibility audits, and ensure that the design meets compliance standards.
5. Content Creators: Responsible for producing text, images, videos, and other media. They should be trained in creating accessible content, such as providing alt text, captions, and transcripts.
6. Product Managers: Oversee the development process. They should advocate for accessibility and ensure that it remains a priority throughout the project.
7. Quality Assurance (QA) Testers: Perform accessibility testing to verify that the product meets the required standards. They can use various assistive technologies and testing tools to identify and address issues.
8. User Advocates and Focus Groups: Involving users with disabilities in the design process is essential. User advocates and focus groups can provide valuable insights into their needs, challenges, and preferences.
9. Legal and Compliance Team: Depending on the region and industry, there may be legal requirements and compliance standards related to accessibility (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 508). The legal and compliance team ensures that the product meets these requirements.
10. Management and Leadership: Vital for fostering a culture of accessibility and allocating resources to ensure accessibility is prioritized in the organization.

Collaboration among these stakeholders is crucial to ensuring that accessibility considerations are integrated into every stage of the design and development process. Accessibility is not a one-time task but an ongoing commitment to creating inclusive experiences for all users.

Example

A team are working on designing a website for an online shopping platform. The team consists of various stakeholders, each playing a role in incorporating accessibility into the design process.

1. Designers: The designers are responsible for creating the website’s layout, visual elements, and user interface. They ensure that the design includes high contrast, clear headings, and easily distinguishable interactive elements.
2. Developers: Developers take the design and implement it into a functional website. They make sure that all interactive elements are keyboard accessible, and they use semantic HTML for proper heading structure and labeling.
3. UX Researchers: UX researchers conduct user testing with participants, including individuals with disabilities. They gather feedback on the website’s usability, accessibility, and identify any challenges users may face.
4. Accessibility Experts: The team may have accessibility experts or consultants who review the design and development process to ensure it meets WCAG guidelines and other accessibility standards.
5. Content Creators: Content creators produce product descriptions, images, and other media. They add descriptive alt text to images and provide captions and transcripts for videos.
6. Product Managers: Product managers advocate for accessibility throughout the project and ensure that it remains a priority. They allocate resources and time for accessibility testing and improvements.
7. Quality Assurance (QA) Testers: QA testers perform accessibility testing using screen readers and other assistive technologies to identify and address any issues related to accessibility.
8. User Advocates and Focus Groups: The team includes users with disabilities who act as advocates and provide valuable feedback on the website’s accessibility from their perspectives.
9. Legal and Compliance Team: The legal and compliance team ensures that the website meets accessibility requirements, such as those outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
10. Management and Leadership: The management and leadership provide support for the team’s efforts to create an accessible website and prioritize accessibility within the organization.

Throughout the design and development process, the team collaborates, incorporates feedback, and makes iterative improvements to ensure the final website is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities.