Accessibility as a Design Tool

You know that accessibility is important, but somewhere along the way it got an undeserved reputation for being ugly, costly, and driven only by technical-compliance requirements.

But proactively incorporating accessibility in his design process is what Derek Featherstone does everyday. And he's going to show you how beautiful, inexpensive, and user-experience-driven accessibility truly is when it's addressed early.

Look to the extremes for your design

You'll illuminate design problems you didn't know existed.

• See example sites and usability-test data that demonstrate accessibility issues
• Examine specific demographics and technologies as a starting point

Identify design problems earlier

You'll create better designs while saving money (Especially on those head-ache-producing late-project rushes).

• Identify needs of people with disabilities in the concept phase
• Consider how age, sight, hearing, or touch impact designs of everyday objects

Integrate accessibility into your process

You'll embrace it as a design tool that improves UX for everyone.

• Learn where accessibility works from the project-definition phase through launch
• Implement simple testing techniques to reveal UX issues iteratively

Encourage a frictionless flow

Your accessibility focus will only delight more users.

• Add auto-suggest and keyboard links so users can navigate more quickly
• Use low-vision and plain-text error messaging so users can make corrections easily