4 signs your product is not as accessible as you think

The Challenge of Retroactive Accessibility

Many organizations didn't prioritize accessibility during the initial development of their products. Consequently, they are now faced with the complex task of integrating it afterward. Updating established codebases and designs that are years old presents significant challenges, both in terms of effort and cost.

Companies must navigate apprehension and ambiguity regarding the implementation of such updates. A lack of sufficient training to initiate these projects, coupled with the need to manage the extent of these changes alongside ongoing development, further complicates the process.

The Scope of Accessibility Needs

Approximately 26% of the adult population in the United States lives with some type of disability. Businesses that disregard or are slow to address accessibility requirements are effectively limiting their digital products to a smaller potential user base.

A user unfamiliar with a system may struggle with a product that presents excessive cognitive demands. Similarly, a product lacking localization features could prevent someone from completing essential tasks, such as refilling a prescription while traveling abroad.

The recent incident involving the “cat lawyer” vividly illustrated these issues, though the attorney involved took it in stride. However, it served as a reminder that many individuals encounter difficulties with commonplace digital tools, and the impact on their daily lives – both personally and professionally – can be substantial.

Recognizing Accessibility Warning Signs

Software founders may not receive an immediate, highly visible alert like a viral video to indicate accessibility problems. However, issues will likely surface eventually, as social media platforms now amplify user support concerns. Avoiding a public crisis requires proactive attention. Here are four indicators that suggest your product may not be as accessible as assumed, along with potential solutions:

• Lack of Keyboard Navigation: Users who cannot utilize a mouse rely entirely on keyboard controls.
• Insufficient Color Contrast: Poor contrast makes text difficult to read for individuals with visual impairments.
• Missing Alternative Text for Images: Screen readers require descriptive alt text to convey image content to visually impaired users.
• Unclear Form Labels: Ambiguous labels can confuse users, particularly those using assistive technologies.

Accessibility Principles: A Foundational Element

Integrating accessibility into your product development is crucial, much like a key ingredient in a recipe. Prioritizing accessibility from the outset yields the best results and proves more efficient in terms of both time and resources.

Addressing usability concerns post-launch can be significantly more expensive – potentially up to 100 times the cost of early-stage fixes.

The POUR Principles of Accessibility

Your development roadmap should be guided by the four core principles of accessibility, conveniently summarized by the acronym POUR:

• Perceivable: Information presented through the user interface must be perceivable to all users.
• Operable: All interface components should be operable and navigable by users.
• Understandable: The content and functionality of the interface must be clear and understandable.
• Robust: Content should remain accessible as technologies evolve, including compatibility with assistive technologies.

Consistent adherence to these principles is essential to ensure your product is accessible to everyone.

Integrating Accessibility Throughout the Lifecycle

Accessibility efforts should be woven into every stage of the product lifecycle – from initial design and development to quality assurance, release, and ongoing updates.

It’s imperative that all team members are educated about and committed to accessibility. Consider designating an accessibility champion within each team to oversee compliance and drive progress.

Initiating new projects with a thorough accessibility audit is a valuable practice, allowing you to pinpoint existing gaps. Collaboration with sales and support teams can also reveal areas where users encounter difficulties.

Legal Considerations and Compliance

Proactive accessibility measures help mitigate potential legal risks associated with non-compliance. A landmark case in 2019 saw a blind man successfully sue Domino’s due to the inaccessibility of their website and mobile app, even when using screen-reading technology.

Similarly, Beyoncé’s company faced a lawsuit from a blind woman that same year. Ignoring the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines exposes product owners to potential legal action.

Resources and Tools for Accessibility

IBM’s Carbon Design System provides a valuable resource, offering free, open-source guidelines for building accessible digital products, catering to individuals with both physical and cognitive disabilities.

Furthermore, various software tools are available to conduct accessibility checks during development, rather than waiting until the product is finalized. This proactive approach streamlines the process and improves overall accessibility.

Accessibility Requires Ongoing Attention

The technological landscape is characterized by rapidly shifting design trends. While your development team likely prioritizes the newest software and mobile functionalities, consistent attention to accessibility is equally crucial.

Maintaining a11y – a common abbreviation for accessibility – isn't a one-time task. The standards for both web and mobile platforms are continually updated, necessitating ongoing effort to remain compliant.

Without regular adjustments and improvements, accessibility issues can accumulate over time. Proactive maintenance is therefore essential.

Regular Reviews and Continuous Learning

Schedule recurring meetings dedicated to evaluating and discussing the accessibility of your products and their adherence to a11y standards.

Investigate how competing products are enhancing their accessibility features. Consider participating in inclusive design training programs, such as those offered by TechCrunch Sessions.

Resources like the A11Y Project provide valuable support for teams seeking to stay informed. They offer a range of materials, including books, tutorials, and access to professional support and testing services.

Accessibility Testing: The Untapped Potential of Direct Experience

Your organization's most valuable asset in achieving accessibility is its own personnel. Assembling a team with diverse backgrounds and perspectives facilitates the quicker identification and resolution of usability obstacles, fostering innovation with a wider reach.

Individuals with disabilities frequently demonstrate remarkable ingenuity, and their insights are invaluable. Beyond team composition, consider this: has your team ever engaged with a screen reader?

Have they attempted website navigation solely through keyboard input? Have your design concepts been visually simulated to represent various forms of visual impairment? If not, critical accessibility elements may be overlooked.

These tools are essential for developing a deeper understanding of the needs of users with impairments. Encourage your team to utilize them early in the development process, particularly when communicating the significance of accessibility (a11y).

Expanding one’s perspective makes it increasingly difficult to disregard the experiences of individuals with differing abilities. Therefore, revisiting your product as a user, adopting a fresh viewpoint, is highly recommended.

Practical Accessibility Tools for Your Team

Directly experiencing accessibility challenges can be transformative. Here are some ways to begin:

• Screen Readers: Tools like NVDA (free) or VoiceOver (built into macOS) allow you to hear how a website is interpreted.
• Keyboard Navigation: Attempt to use your website without a mouse, relying solely on the Tab key and arrow keys.
• Color Contrast Checkers: Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background colors for readability.
• Accessibility Linters: Integrate tools into your development workflow to automatically identify potential issues.

These methods provide firsthand insight into the barriers faced by many users. Understanding these challenges is the first step toward creating truly inclusive digital experiences.

By actively engaging with these tools, teams can move beyond theoretical understanding and develop a genuine empathy for the needs of all users. This shift in perspective is crucial for building products that are both usable and equitable.

Failing to Engage with Your User Base

Ultimately, a genuinely accessible product is unlikely to be realized without direct communication with its intended users. The broader public represents a remarkably diverse group, capable of identifying shortcomings in your product for individuals with varying backgrounds and capabilities. Each user's interaction with a product is distinct.

Regardless of the dedication invested thus far, potential issues will almost certainly arise. Actively solicit feedback from a broad spectrum of users throughout the entire product development process.

This can be achieved through user testing with each iteration, gathering user opinions via in-app surveys, and conducting focus groups that intentionally include individuals with diverse needs.

The Benefits of Inclusive Design

Accessible design is fundamentally sound design practice. It's a common misunderstanding that it solely enhances the user experience for people with disabilities; it actually improves the experience for all users.

All founders aim for maximum reach with their product. Embracing accessibility from the outset simplifies the process, integrating it as another valuable tool in your development arsenal. Perfection isn't attainable immediately.

Focus on continuous improvement rather than striving for an unrealistic ideal.

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