Fostering Accessibility at Scale: Key Takeaways From a Recent Toronto a11y Meetup

In an era where digital equality is not just a moral imperative but increasingly a legal requirement, accessibility has emerged as a critical priority for organizations across the spectrum. The growing focus on inclusivity, coupled with impending legislation to enforce digital accessibility, raises questions about how prepared organizations are to meet these challenges.

At a recent a11yTO meetup in Toronto, leads from CBC Media, Skyscanner, and Kobo shared their hard-won insights and innovative strategies for implementing accessibility in large-scale organizations.

Their experiences offer valuable lessons for any organization looking to enhance their digital accessibility efforts. Below are some of our key takeaways as we look to continually improve how we create more accessible and universal experiences.

Key Takeaways

1. Start with the Foundation: Many organizations begin by auditing their existing design systems to ensure accessibility is baked into the core of their digital products. This approach not only improves accessibility but also helps identify potential accessibility champions among team members.
2. Integrate Accessibility into Existing Processes: Incorporating accessibility checks into development workflows and adding accessibility sections to design specs ensures that accessibility is considered from the outset, rather than as an afterthought.
3. Build Empathy and Understanding: Running experience labs using tools like visual impairment simulators and arthritis gloves can help team members understand the challenges faced by users with disabilities. However, it's crucial to involve people with disabilities directly in the design process for authentic insights.
4. Create a Network of Advocates: Forming accessibility champion groups helps spread knowledge and maintain momentum across different teams and departments, fostering a culture of accessibility throughout the organization.
5. Start Planning Early: Accessibility considerations should be part of the initial requirements and planning process. This proactive approach prevents costly retrofitting and ensures a more seamless integration of accessible features.
6. Conduct Diverse Usability Testing: Regular testing with users who have different accessibility needs is essential, as one solution doesn't fit all. Partnerships with organizations like Fable, which provides accessibility testing through analysts with disabilities, can be invaluable.
7. Focus on Specific Challenges: Instead of trying to solve everything at once, organizations can make more manageable and impactful improvements by focusing on one particular accessibility challenge at a time.
8. Embrace Collaboration: Accessibility is not the responsibility of a single department or individual. It requires input and effort from designers, developers, content creators, and leadership. Co-design, involving diverse stakeholders including users with various accessibility needs, leads to more inclusive and effective solutions.

Summary

The insights from the a11yTO meetup underscore that creating truly accessible digital experiences requires more than just technical knowledge. It demands empathy, creativity, and a willingness to collaborate, learn, and adapt. By starting with a solid foundation, integrating accessibility into existing processes, building empathy, and fostering a culture of accessibility advocacy, organizations can make significant strides in creating inclusive digital environments.

As digital accessibility continues to gain importance, these lessons from industry leaders provide a roadmap for organizations looking to improve their accessibility efforts. By embracing these principles and committing to ongoing learning and improvement, companies can not only meet legal requirements but also create better experiences for all users, regardless of their abilities.