The Big Idea
The Inspiration Phase
Design is not necessarily inclusive. Goodwill and best intentions alone will not achieve expectations; deliberate action is vital. Design is all around us, but for the most part it reflects the perception of the designer, and if the product or service fails needs, then the design concepts are flawed.The accessibility problems of today are the mainstream breakthroughs of tomorrow.
Eve Andersson, Director, Accessibility Engineering, Google
An Innovation Historical Perspective
Human Limitations
Visual disabilities range from mild or moderate vision impairments in one or both eyes (low vision or partial sight), to substantial and uncorrectable loss of vision in both eyes (blindness), and some people have reduced or lack of sensitivity to certain colours (colour blindness).
Vision Loss:
Vision Loss:
Auditory disabilities range from mild or moderate hearing impairments in one or both ears (hard of hearing), to substantial and uncorrectable impairment of hearing in both ears (deafness), and some people with auditory disabilities can hear sounds but sometimes not sufficiently to understand all speech, especially when there is background noise.
Hearing Loss:
Hearing Loss:
Physical disabilities (motor difficulties) include weakness, limitations of muscular control, limitations of sensation, joint problems, pain that impedes movement, or missing limbs.
Motor Loss:
Motor Loss:
Cognitive and neurological disabilities involve disorders of any part of the nervous system, including the brain and the peripheral nervous system. Cognitive and neurological disabilities do not necessarily affect the intelligence of a person.
Cognitive Loss:
Cognitive Loss:
Age related, environmental or situational disabilities will effect everyone at some point in their life. If you are not aging, or you can guarantee that you will never have an accident or some debilitating disease, or will never be in an environmental situation where you cannot see or hear, then you need not be concerned about accessibility.
Aging and Temporary Loss:
Aging and Temporary Loss:
Common Digital Communication Errors
About 96% of all digital communication errors detected fall into six categories. Addressing these issues would significantly improve the user experience.- Low contrast text 83.6%
- Missing alternative text for images 58.2%
- Empty links 50.1%
- Missing form input labels 45.9%
- Empty buttons 27.5%
- Missing document language 18.6%
- WebAIM: The 2023 report on the accessibility of the top 1,000,000 home pages
The Accessibility Challenge
Marketing to marginalized groups and Communicating in multiple formats.- Productivity that enables employees to be productive and satisfied.
- Inclusion that integrates people, products, and services.
- Communications that informs people, builds knowledge, and creates confidence.