Tips for Understanding Accessibility Challenges

What’s something you wish more people understood about accessibility? Here's the thought process I go through every single time I visit a new business or city 1. Parking: Does the place have accessible parking nearby? Will it be available, or will someone without a placard take the spot? If there’s no parking, is there a drop-off zone that won’t leave me stuck in a dangerous spot? If I'm by myself how far am I going to have to push myself through a pothole-infested parking lot before I get to a curb cut> 2. Entrances: Does the building have a ramp? If it does, is it actually usable, or is it one of those afterthought ramps that feel like they were designed by someone who has never seen someone using a wheelchair? If there are automatic doors, do they work? If not, will I be able to open the door myself? How high is the lip between the pathway and inside? Are the doors wide enough, or will I have to ask someone to open a second door for me so I can get in? 3. Bathrooms: Does the place have an accessible bathroom, or is it technically "accessible" but actually too small to turn around in? Are the grab bars where they’re supposed to be? Will it be one of those situations where the accessible stall is being used as storage? 4. Medication: As a type 1 diabetic, I can’t go anywhere without emergency supplies. Will my bags get searched? If I’m traveling for more than 24 hours, will I have access to a refrigerator for my insulin? 5. Seating and Space: If I’m meeting friends, can I sit with them? Will there be tables with space for my chair, or will they all have fixed seating? Will I be stuck in a walkway with people brushing past me all night? 6. Flooring and Terrain: Are there unexpected stairs? Thick carpet that makes pushing a nightmare? Gravel, cobblestones, or sand? Do I have a backup plan if my chair gets stuck? 7. Elevators Is there an elevator? If so, does it work? Am I going to have to chase down a key? Is it being used for storage? Will I be able to reach the buttons? And if it breaks while I’m upstairs, do I have a way to get back down? 8. Weather: If it’s raining, will the sidewalks be safe or turn into a slip-and-slide? If it’s hot, will I overheat because the accessible path takes five times longer to get in? 9. Backup Plans: And my personal least favorite, if I get there and realize it’s not actually accessible, what do I do? Will I have to leave? Will I have to call someone for help? 10. Ride Share: If I am traveling out of town, how many ride-share drivers will cancel on me as soon as I tell them or they see I have a wheelchair? Yep, it's illegal. Doesn't stop them from doing it. These are just a few of the things I think about every time I go somewhere new. Accessibility isn’t just about checking a few boxes. It’s about whether I can actually get in, move around, and enjoy the same experience as everyone else. #AccessibilityMotivationalMonday #Accessibility #Disability #Inclusion #Accessible

Happy Global Accessibility Awareness Day everyone! It's a great day to remind people, that, accessibility is the responsibility of the whole team, including designers! A couple of things designers can do: - Use sufficient color contrast (text + UI elements) and don’t rely on color alone to convey meaning. - Ensure readable typography: support text resizing, avoid hard-to-read styles, maintain hierarchy. - Make links and buttons clear and distinguishable (label, size, states). - Design accessible forms: clear labels, error help, no duplicate input, document states. - Support keyboard navigation: tab order, skip links, focus indicators, keyboard interaction. - Structure content with headings and landmarks: use proper H1–Hn, semantic order, regions. - Provide text alternatives for images, icons, audio, and video. - Avoid motion triggers: respect reduced motion settings, allow pause on auto-play. - Design with flexibility: support orientation change, allow text selection, avoid fixed-height elements. - Document accessibly and communicate: annotate designs, collaborate with devs, QA, and content teams. Need to learn more? I got a couple of resources on my blog: - A Designer’s Guide to Documenting Accessibility & User Interactions: https://lnkd.in/eUh8Jvvn - How to check and document design accessibility in your mockups: a conference on how to use Figma plugins and annotation kits to shift accessibility left https://lnkd.in/eu8YuWyF - Accessibility for designer: where do I start? Articles, resources, checklists, tools, plugins, and books to design accessible products https://lnkd.in/ejeC_QpH - Neurodiversity and UX: Essential Resources for Cognitive Accessibility, Guidelines to understand and design for Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Autism and ADHD https://lnkd.in/efXaRwgF - Color accessibility: tools and resources to help you design inclusive products https://lnkd.in/dRrwFJ5 #Accessibility #ShiftLeft #GAAD

You can’t see cognitive overload. That’s why it’s ignored. Most teams treat accessibility as contrast ratios and alt text. But cognitive accessibility is wider than that, and less forgiving when you get it wrong. Here are 5 common cognitive disabilities And what designers can actually do. 1. ADHD Challenges: • Distractibility • Difficulty prioritizing • Overwhelm from dense layouts Design for: • Clear visual hierarchy • One primary action per section • Step-based flows Avoid: • Competing primary CTAs • Auto-rotating carousels • Notification overload 2. Dyslexia Challenges: • Slower decoding • Reading fatigue • Difficulty with dense text blocks Design for: • Plain language • Left-aligned text • Generous line height (1.5+ recommended) • Clear headings and chunking Avoid: • Justified text • Long paragraphs • Low-contrast body text 3. Autism Spectrum Challenges: • Sensory sensitivity • Cognitive overload • Distress from unexpected change Design for: • Predictable layouts • Explicit labels • Warnings before context shifts • User-controlled animation and motion Avoid: • Sudden modals • Autoplay video • Reduced motion off by default • Ambiguous copy like “Try it” or “Explore.” 4. Memory Impairment Challenges: • Forgetting steps • Losing context in multi-step flows Design for: • Persistent instructions • Progress indicators • Auto-save • Clear error recovery Avoid: • Clearing form data on error • Hiding previous answers • Long forms without sectioning 5. Anxiety Disorders Challenges: • Fear of mistakes • Stress from uncertainty • Decision paralysis Design for: • Reassuring microcopy • Undo functionality • Transparent consequences • Calm error messaging Avoid: • Countdown timers • Aggressive urgency language • Vague destructive actions Ask yourself: "Does this screen reduce thinking or increase it?" 👇🏽 Are we over-indexing on visual accessibility while ignoring cognitive overload? Drop your thoughts in the comments. ♻️ Share and save this for your team. --- ✉️ Subscribe to my newsletter for accessibility and design insights here: https://lnkd.in/gZpAzWSu --- Accessibility note: Content in the post is the same as the image attached (except for a few bullets omitted for easy scanability)

Many companies say they want to hire disabled people. But what happens after we're hired? Accessibility isn’t just ramps, accessible bathrooms, and screen readers. It’s workplace culture. Everyday expectations. Ask yourself: • Are project timelines so tight that a few sick days derail everything? • Do employees have to jump into last-minute meetings all day? • Are cameras required for every Zoom call? • Are employees expected to “think on their feet” instead of having time to reflect? • Do flexible schedules exist? • Are remote roles available? • Is PTO generous enough to realistically support employees' health needs? These things aren’t perks. For many people with disabilities, they’re the difference between staying employed and burning out—or destroying their health. There’s a reason people with disabilities are more likely to be self-employed. Not because we’re more entrepreneurial by nature. But because sometimes, creating our own work environment is the only way we can find one that works. I know this firsthand. If organizations truly want to include disabled professionals, the conversation shouldn’t stop at hiring. We also need to ask: “Are our workplaces designed for people to stay?” Accessibility isn’t just about getting people through the door. It’s about making sure people can thrive once they’re inside. What workplace practices have helped you—or your employees—actually stay and succeed? #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveWorkplaces

Design can only be termed good if it reaches all. Creating beautiful and innovative designs is a key goal for graphic designers. However, even the most visually appealing designs can be inaccessible to some users if they don’t consider various accessibility needs. Low contrast between text and gaudy backgrounds can make it difficult for people with visual impairments or colour blindness to read the content. Decorative fonts can be hard to read for everyone, especially for people with dyslexia or other reading disabilities. So, what do we do to make designs more disability inclusive? 🔍 Understand Diverse Needs: Begin with empathy. Get to know the unique needs and challenges faced by people with disabilities. This understanding will guide your design process to be more inclusive. 🖼️ Accessible Visuals: Use high-contrast colors and clear fonts to make text and images easily readable. 🗣️ Alt Text Matters: Provide descriptive alt text for all images to ensure that screen readers can convey the content to visually impaired users, making your designs more inclusive. 🎨 Responsive Design: Design with flexibility by creating layouts that adapt seamlessly across different devices and screen sizes, including those used by people with disabilities. ♿ Universal Symbols: Use universally recognized symbols and icons to communicate important information. 💬 Inclusive Language: Choose words that respect and acknowledge people with disabilities. Avoid ableist language and ensure your message is positive and empowering. 👩💻 User Testing with Disabled Communities:  Involve people with disabilities in your testing process. Their feedback is invaluable in creating designs that truly meet their needs. Embracing disability inclusion in our designs is the next step to making the world a better place. Let me know of more design inclusive strategies in the comments below! #inclusive #design #accessibility #uxdesign #a11y #disabilityinclusion #universaldesign #webaccessibility #empathyindesign #userexperience #designthinking

Don’t have LOW expectations for disabled people. Don’t exclude us from activities. Don't view us as a liability. Don’t have fear about getting things wrong and then not do anything at all ❌ We’re the experts on what we can and can’t do. 1. Provide clear explanations of plans and activities. 2. Create space for us to ask questions and provide feedback. 3. Ask us what our access needs are. Listen to us. 4. Collaborate with us to adapt and include us. Focus on possibility. 5. Improve accessibility and inclusion over the long term. Instead of thinking we can't do something, change your framework to ask HOW we can do something instead. I hope this helps. Does this message resonate? What examples do you have of people having low expectations of you? #Disability #DisabilityInclusion #Ableism

I just spent 3 years analyzing more than 30 organizations and their accessibility initiatives. Here are 3 trends I noticed: 1. Accessibility Statements = Lots of Promises, Little Action Many organizations have beautifully written accessibility statements, pledging inclusion and access for all. But when you dig deeper? Very few are walking the talk. It’s easy to pledge on paper, but what matters is the execution—action speaks louder than words. Takeaway: Don’t just craft statements—craft change. It’s time to move from promises to real, measurable outcomes. 2. Token Efforts = Great PR, Minimal Impact I’ve seen so many companies invest in token accessibility efforts—building one ramp or adding alt-text to a couple of images, just to check a box. It’s usually enough to get some positive press, but the actual impact on the disabled community? Minimal. Performative inclusion doesn’t solve the deeper issues of inaccessibility and ableism in society or within workplaces. Takeaway: Inclusion isn’t a one-off. Real accessibility requires continuous effort, investment, and a willingness to evolve. It’s not just about looking good; it’s about making a lasting difference. 3. Accessible Design = More Engagement and Satisfaction Organizations that prioritize truly accessible design—both digitally and physically—see better engagement not only from the disabled community but from everyone. Accessible design benefits everyone. It creates a user-friendly environment where people feel seen, heard, and valued, leading to increased loyalty and satisfaction. Takeaway: Make accessibility your competitive advantage. It’s not just about compliance; it’s about making everyone feel included and valued. The bottom line: If you’re serious about disability inclusion, don’t wait for the world to push you. Lead by example and start making changes now that actually impact lives. What are you doing to ensure your initiatives are more than just words?

Accessibility isn't always visible. We've gotten better at recognizing physical barriers like ramps, elevators, and automatic doors. But, many of the barriers people navigate every day?! You can't see them. Cognitive overload Sensory sensitivities Anxiety in high-pressure environments Information that is technically available, but impossible to process. These are accessibility barriers too. If we only design for what we can see, we unintentionally exclude people whose needs are less visible, but just as real. Designing for people with invisible disabilities means asking different questions. -Is this information easy to understand? Or is it just available? -Does this space assume everyone processes stimuli the same way? -Are we creating environments that overwhelm, rush, or silence people? Because accessibility isn't just about compliance. It's about experience. When we design for the margins and account for cognitive, sensory, and mental health realities, we don't just support a few people, we make things better for everyone. That's what inclusive design actually looks like. #Accessibility #PwDs #AODA #InclusiveDesign #PeopleWithDisabilities #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthAtWork #UniversalDesign #WorkplaceInclusion #HumAnCenteredDesign #Belonging #DiversityAndInclusion #AllThingsEquitable

Top 4 questions to ask about #accessibility —that aren't about #accessibility (but tell you what you really need to know): 1) Where are your UI designers located? Are they integrated with devs, or are they in another department? - This tells you if the team is really #agile or doing #waterfall in 2 week sprints. - When a design team is in another department throwing designs over the wall, change becomes slow and painful — the team as a whole can't iterate, they only launch features and forget about them. - When designers are integrated with devs on cross functional teams, they can quickly make small changes and will tend to learn/grow together in #a11y knowledge. 2) Where in the design and dev process is it too late to make significant changes? - Too much of the time, accessibility people are brought a design for blessing — not feedback. "Is this contrast okay?" - In waterfall teams, this is because designs are often being thrown over the wall as development is occurring, so significant changes will never actually be possible. - This conversation gives you an opportunity to actually shift left — or at least have healthy expectations about what *can* change (which might not be a lot). 3) How disciplined is your workflow? Do PMs write consistent acceptance criteria in stories and expect demos? - If product managers/owners are doing their jobs, you can incorporate accessibility acceptance criteria/training into their stories from AtomicA11y.com and watch as they shift left in development and become self sufficient (it takes about 3 months). - If not, you're definitely gonna be running a remediation program. Sorry. 4) Who are the #HIPPOs (Highest Paid Person's Opinion) actually signing off on what gets made and when? - Once a HIPPO has set priorities or signed off on a design, there is heavy friction and desperate fear of changing it. - Nobody wants to go back to a HIPPO and tell them they made a mistake (or worse, tell them their favorite color of blue doesn't meet contrast requirements). - HIPPOs are the people you need to be communicating with as well, and possibly the people above them, and possibly the people above them. Why these questions? They give you context to start working with a team while establishing healthy expectations for what you can (and can't) accomplish. To me, these are the most important questions — because they're the determining factors whether a digital product will be in a continuous improvement (i.e. shift left) or a painful risk remediation program.