Accessibility as a Design Tool Derek Featherstone argues that accessibility should be integrated into design workflows from the beginning of any project. He advocates including people with disabilities in user research, testing designs for accessibility, and validating solutions with people with disabilities. Featherstone believes accessibility makes for better design overall when incorporated throughout the entire design process, from project definition to launch.

1. Accessibility as a Design Tool

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5. bacontoday.com/turbaconducken-turducken-wrapped-in-bacon/

6. I think some of why people don’t do Web
accessibility is a lack of awareness, but a lot
of it is because people think it’s too hard.
What would help is if you can start teaching
people HOW to integrate it into typical
workflows for specific audiences—devs.
project managers, Scrum Masters, designers

7. I think they just genuinely struggled to
understand the benefits. Many fail to realize
that it’s not just about people who are blind
or deaf—many people could benefit from a
more accessible site.

8. Derek, all this stuff that you’ve taught us...
yes, it makes this more accessible, but really,
fundamentally, this is just a better design,
period.

9. Accessibility as a Design Tool

10. Derek Featherstone
feather@simplyaccessible.com
@feather

11. Accessibility is not binary, all-or-nothing,
black and white. We have every shade of grey
in between. How you view this point frames
everything that you learn and do about
accessibility.

12. extremes extremes

13. IDEO: The Deep Dive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M66ZU2PCIcM

14. ‘
‘
By examining the extreme ends of a set of
phenomena in depth, the entire universe of
relationships can be illuminated since other
instances will fall somewhere on the map of
relations and links.

17. Tools to get the job done.

18. Tools to get the job done.

19. So, how do we use
Accessibility as a Design Tool?

20. Always start at the beginning
of the design process

21. Project User Design Develop & Validate &
Definition Research Iteration Implement Launch

22. Project User Design Develop & Validate &
Definition Research Iteration Implement Launch
Any special
content needs?
What support/
customer service
needs will this
bring?
Has this been
done before?
What new
technology &
challenges are
there?

23. Project User Design Develop & Validate &
Definition Research Iteration Implement Launch
Any special Include people
content needs? with disabilities
in more than
What support/ interviews and
customer service focus groups; use
needs will this observation and
bring? walk-throughs.
Has this been Include
done before? functional needs
in personas, user
What new stories and other
technology & artifacts
challenges are
there? Find people both
in and outside
your org to get
subject matter
expertise and
perspective.

24. Project User Design Develop & Validate &
Definition Research Iteration Implement Launch
Any special Include people Test colours
content needs? with disabilities
in more than Test concepts
What support/ interviews and
customer service focus groups; use Test iconography
needs will this observation and and visual
bring? walk-throughs. language assets
(particularly for
Has this been Include low vision user)
done before? functional needs
in personas, user Tend to focus on
What new stories and other visual design, but
technology & artifacts we must examine
challenges are process design.
there? Find people both
in and outside
your org to get
subject matter
expertise and
perspective.

25. Project User Design Develop & Validate &
Definition Research Iteration Implement Launch
Any special Include people Test colours Test templates
content needs? with disabilities
in more than Test concepts Test functional
What support/ interviews and prototypes and
customer service focus groups; use Test iconography demos
needs will this observation and and visual
bring? walk-throughs. language assets Don’t test with
(particularly for people with
Has this been Include low vision user) disabilities too
done before? functional needs early (it can be
in personas, user Tend to focus on very frustrating
What new stories and other visual design, but and not
technology & artifacts we must examine productive)
challenges are process design.
there? Find people both Fix technical
in and outside accessibility
your org to get issues THEN test
subject matter with people with
expertise and disabilities for
perspective. ease of use

26. Project User Design Develop & Validate &
Definition Research Iteration Implement Launch
Any special Include people Test colours Test templates Engage and
content needs? with disabilities respond to user
in more than Test concepts Test functional feedback
What support/ interviews and prototypes and
customer service focus groups; use Test iconography demos Ensure that as
needs will this observation and and visual part of roll-out
bring? walk-throughs. language assets Don’t test with appropriate
(particularly for people with training is given
Has this been Include low vision user) disabilities too to CSRs so they
done before? functional needs early (it can be can act.
in personas, user Tend to focus on very frustrating
What new stories and other visual design, but and not On-going plans
technology & artifacts we must examine productive) for organized
challenges are process design. learning from
there? Find people both Fix technical project, and
in and outside accessibility documentation/
your org to get issues THEN test resolution of
subject matter with people with issues that are
expertise and disabilities for raised
perspective. ease of use

27. Project User Design Develop & Validate &
Definition Research Iteration Implement Launch
Any special Include people Test colours Test templates Engage and
content needs? with disabilities respond to user
in more than Test concepts Test functional feedback
What support/ interviews and prototypes and
customer service focus groups; use Test iconography demos Ensure that as
needs will this observation and and visual part of roll-out
bring? walk-throughs. language assets Don’t test with appropriate
(particularly for people with training is given
Has this been Include low vision user) disabilities too to CSRs so they
done before? functional needs early (it can be can act.
in personas, user Tend to focus on very frustrating
What new stories and other visual design, but and not On-going plans
technology & artifacts we must examine productive) for organized
challenges are process design. learning from
there? Find people both Fix technical project, and
in and outside accessibility documentation/
your org to get issues THEN test resolution of
subject matter with people with issues that are
expertise and disabilities for raised
perspective. ease of use

28. Project User Design Develop & Validate &
Definition Research Iteration Implement Launch
Any special Include people Test colours Test templates Engage and
content needs? with disabilities respond to user
in more than Test concepts Test functional feedback
What support/ interviews and prototypes and
customer service focus groups; use Test iconography demos Ensure that as
needs will this observation and and visual part of roll-out
bring? walk-throughs. language assets Don’t test with appropriate
(particularly for people with training is given
Has this been Include low vision user) disabilities too to CSRs so they
done before? functional needs early (it can be can act.
in personas, user Tend to focus on very frustrating
What new stories and other visual design, but and not On-going plans
technology & artifacts we must examine productive) for organized
challenges are process design. learning from
there? Find people both Fix technical project, and
in and outside accessibility documentation/
your org to get issues THEN test resolution of
subject matter with people with issues that are
expertise and disabilities for raised
perspective. ease of use

29. Project User Design Develop & Validate &
Definition Research Iteration Implement Launch
Any special Include people Test colours Test templates Engage and
content needs? with disabilities respond to user
in more than Test concepts Test functional feedback
What support/ interviews and prototypes and
customer service focus groups; use Test iconography demos Ensure that as
needs will this observation and and visual part of roll-out
bring? walk-throughs. language assets Don’t test with appropriate
(particularly for people with training is given
Has this been Include low vision user) disabilities too to CSRs so they
done before? functional needs early (it can be can act.
in personas, user Tend to focus on very frustrating
What new stories and other visual design, but and not On-going plans
technology & artifacts we must examine productive) for organized
challenges are process design. learning from
there? Find people both Fix technical project, and
in and outside accessibility documentation/
your org to get issues THEN test resolution of
subject matter with people with issues that are
expertise and disabilities for raised
perspective. ease of use

30. Overlapping Map Polygons: Non-visual access

31. Overlapping Map Polygons: Non-visual access

32. Auto-suggest: Keyboard Access

33. Error Messaging: Low-vision Access

34. SVG Maps: Keyboard Access

37. Table of Contents: Skip Links on Steroids

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48. Derek Featherstone
feather@simplyaccessible.com
@feather

49. simplyaccessible.com
Accessibility consulting, strategy and assessments
Accessible development and remediation services
Training courses, workshops and conferences
Derek Featherstone
feather@simplyaccessible.com
@feather on twitter
(613) 599-9784