Introduction to Accessibility and Inclusive Design

@EmmaJ_PR

Accessibility

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How often does one size fit all?

Impairment

The state or fact of being impaired, especially in a specified faculty.

Icons from The Noun Project

Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit - Persona Spectrum

Environment

The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal or plant lives and operates.

Icons from The Noun Project

World Health Organisation - 1980

In the context of health experience, a disability is any restriction or lack of ability (resulting from an impairment) to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.

World Health Organisation - today

Disability is not just a health problem. It is a complex phenomenon, reflecting the interaction between features of a person's body and features of the society in which he or she lives.

Disability

Jamie Knight & Lion, BBC Accessibility Specialists

Impairment

+ Environment

Impairment

+ right Environment

Accessability

Icon from The Noun Project

One size does not fit all!

Keyboard - try to navigate with only Tab, Shift + Tab, Enter, Space bar, and Esc

Screen Reader - not all screen reader users are blind

                             - there is a screen reader on your device, try it out 

                             - tip: set-up / learn the shortcut toggle first

An Alphabet of Accessibility - Anne Gibson

A11y isn't just... - Dave Letorey

Can you think of times when you had difficulty with your sight, hearing, movement, or thinking?

Can you think of people you know who have difficulty with their sight, hearing, movement, or thinking?

What environment change would make access easier in those situations?

Accessibility is about ALL people.

• Vision ... put your mobile phone behind your back or inside your shirt and try to use it.
• Hearing ... mute the sound on your device and try to understand a video news report or music lyrics.
• Motor ... put your dominent hand inside your sleeve or shirt and try to use your touchscreen.
• Cognitive ... pair-up and sit back to back, then talk your partner through playing a game on your device.
• Technology ... try using your mobile on a 2G signal.

Develop your empathy

Products developed with limitations in mind have given designers a new perspective and resulted in innovation.
Designing for everyone will help you create content that is used by more people in more situations.

Wendy Chisholm
W3C WAI Accessibility Specialist

Equivalent, as in equally valuable & meaningful.

1. Put people first
2. Use familiarity
3. Give control
4. Offer choice
5. Add value

Practical first steps for a good foundation

• Meaning ... use semantic structures like headings, lists, consistent labels, descriptive link text, and text alternatives for visual content.
• Focus ... ensure the order makes sense, that there is a visible indicator of where focus is, and that you don't trap keyboard navigating.
• Colour ... ensure there is sufficient contrast between text and background, and don't use colour alone to indicate meaning, such as a link or error.

Established Accessibility Guidelines

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
• BBC Mobile Accessibility Guidelines
• Google's Material Design Guidelines
• Apple's Human Interface Guidelines

Accessibility and inclusive design
is thinking in more than one size

Thank you!

https://slides.com/emmajpr/a11yaid

Accessibility

@EmmaJ_PR