Accessibility isn’t an afterthought; it’s a cornerstone of your product development process. You might be familiar with accessibility, but ensuring your product is usable by everyone can be challenging.
Why Accessibility Matters
Too often, accessibility is an afterthought. Checking a box with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliance isn’t enough. Accessibility is about usability. An unusable product, even if technically compliant, fails its users.
Accessibility: A Core Principle
Whether it’s software, hardware, or an everyday item, accessibility should be built-in from the start, not bolted on later. It’s a core part of design, development, and testing, not a last-minute scramble.
Know Your Audience
Who are you designing for? Understanding your target audience early on is crucial. This knowledge becomes the foundation for accessibility testing throughout development.
Designing for Everyone
Designers should understand the audience to create usable interfaces and content. They need to identify informative visuals, user journeys needing assistance, and design for an inclusive experience.
Development for Accessibility
Developers translate designers’ insights into accessible products. They test code and implement accessibility features. It’s challenging but becomes second nature with practice.
Testing for Usability
Testing goes beyond WCAG compliance checks. Can users navigate without conventional interfaces? Does a screen reader convey meaning accurately? Is keyboard navigation smooth? Your QA team should be equipped to test these aspects.
Accessibility is Achievable
Creating a fully accessible experience might seem daunting at first. But with practice, it becomes easier. An accessible product is like riding a bike – once you learn, it becomes second nature.
