Creating a culture of accessibility

Mark Palmer

Accessibility Consultant

@caledoniaman

shout@markpalmer.org

"The power of the web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.” - Tim Berners-Lee

// Lack of awareness & desire// Scale of change// Multiple content owners// Offsite or third party development// Ignore, ignore. PANIC.// Limited access to users and assistive technology

// WCAG? W3C? WTF?// A little knowledge is more dangerous than none// Multiple content owners// Offsite or third party development// Ignore, ignore. PANIC.// Limited access to users and assistive technology

// Where to start?// Legacy systems and interfaces// Use of legacy browsers for internal systems

// Multiple content owners// Marketing – brand// Comms – content// Development team – new applications// Limited control over what can be achieved

// Third parties often add complications// Design agencies with no awareness// Unwillingness to admit a lack of understanding// Late visibility of developed products// Expensive to ‘fix’ accessibility issues// Shunted to a ‘Phase 2’

// Accessibility is commonly not considered until late in the development cycle or post launch// More expensive to fix issues at this point// More likely to be subject to compromise// Issues treated as ‘defects’ rather than failure to meet requirements

// Difficulty gaining access to real users// Assistive technology can be expensive// Limitations around installing assistive software// Difficult to ensure AT remains current

THAT’S PLENTY

// Don’t be a Superhero// Pick your battles// Focus energies where the greatest impact can be made// Start with the website and new development

// Teach. Talk to anyone who will listen.// Raise awareness of the barriers and the real people experiencing them// Make accessibility the responsibility of everyone// Developers// Content managers// Marketing and Communications teams// Director level

// It’s not all about A or AA, compliance or not// It’s about making products and services easier to use// Encourage incremental accessibility// WCAG as the carrot, not the stick// Focus on the user experience, not guidelines and violations

“Access is always about architecture and never about human beings”- John Hockenberry

// As developers - take control// Forgiveness not permission// Create a toolkit for developers// Colour contrast analyser// NVDA screen reader// Keyboard navigation

// Go do it// Don’t do it alone// Don’t fix the product, fix the approach// Don’t be afraid to fail// Experience. Learn. Adapt.