You've been chosen to wrangle your colleagues into a thriving accessibility team. How will you do that? Stay calm and get 5 keys to help you form an effective plan for working with your team, changing your institutional approach, and producing accessible projects.

1. 5 Keys for Implementing Accessibility in
Your Team
Angela M. Hooker
Accessing Higher Ground Conference
November 2016

2. Hi! I’m Angela.
@AccessForAll | #5A11yKeys | #AHG16

3. A 1990s-era Hewlett Packard keyboard with
soda and ice all over it.

4. “Oh, fudge!”
Ralphie from the movie “A Christmas Story”
saying, “Oh, fudge!”

5. You, you, you!
A person pointing.

6. Ewe again?
A ewe.

7. Yes, you are The Expert who has an unending fountain of
accessibility knowledge (at least your colleagues think so).
The Trevi Fountain in Rome.

8. Lego rendering of the famous “printer smashing” scene in “Office Space.”
1. Establish relationships with your team.

9. Get to know your team and bond with them.
Three people dressed as Captain
America, The Flash, and Wonder
Woman, participatingin a race.

10. Treat and speak to your colleagues with respect.
Rodney Dangerfield.

11. If they feel like you’re on their side, they’re likely to
cooperate with you, hear you, and work hard.
A little girl with a dog
sleeping on her.

12. Cultivate a “no-blame” culture where people can
safely admit that their skills may not be up to par.
A school with a sign that says “Parent – Teach Night: Let’s Both Share the Blame”

13. Promote accountability and responsibility.
A mock motivational poster with two construction workers; the
poster says “Accountability: Know when to pass the buck.”

14. Be sensitive.
A fireman rescuing a
dog.

15. Get management’s support.
A mug that says “World’s Best Boss.”

16. 2. Teach your team about disabilities.
People in Santiago, Chile marching for people with disabilities: "work, rights, dignity"

17. Give them a balanced view about dis/abilities.
A “handicap parking” sign with graffiti all over it.

18. To the contrary …
See Mel Finefrock's blog post,
“Why I Don't Mind Being
Considered an Inspiration.”
“... creating smaller unities
may inspire greater ones."
A photograph of Mel Finefrock.

19. Show them assistive technologies.
Several assistive technologies.

20. Try simulating experiences with assistive technologies.
Blurry hands typing on a keyboard.

21. Ask people to consider their future selves.
An elderly man.

22. What types of disability awareness activities can you do?
Icons showing disability types.

23. 3. Decide which standards and guidelines you’ll
use.
A stack of papers.

24. Consider these:
Accessibility
and web
standards
Best
practices Organization
al standards
Your
observations
and research

25. 4. Train your team to use principles of
accessibility in their work.
A group of eight construction workers.

26. Teach them that accessibility isn’t only a tech issue.
An old terminal-style computer.

27. Web Experience Toolkit (WET)
Screenshot of the Web Experience Toolkit.

28. Teach each role how to test for accessibility in their work.
Three students taking a test.

29. Not everyone may learn from you—and that’s okay!
A violin teacher and student.

30. Allow your team to solve accessibility problems.
A woman solving a complex math equation.

31. Give your team resources and tools.
Two toolboxes with assorted tools.

32. 5. Get your team involved with your
audience.
An audience sitting in an auditorium.

33. Usability research doesn’t have to be expensive or
intimidating!

34. How will you implement these?
Establish
relationships.
Teach your
team about
disabilities.
Decide which
standards and
guidelines
your team
will use.
Train your
team to use
principles of
accessibility
in their work.
Get your
team involved
with your
audience.
A modern keyboard.

35. Thank you!
#5A11yKeys | #AHG16
@AccessForAll
LinkedIn: /angelahooker
ange@angelahooker.com