What is web accessibility, and why does it matter? Daryl Suttie, accessibility enthusiast, answers our questions about accessibility gotchas and illustrates how we can promote web accessibility and "sell" it to large software companies.
Timestamps
- [00:01:00]: Daryl's Background
- Accidental accessibility specialist; held roles in design,
development, product management, QA; now advocates passionately for web
accessibility
- [00:03:24]: Accessibility Laws and Regulations - Current state in Canada, US, Europe; accessibility becomes hotter topic in coming years
- [00:06:49]: Accessibility Debt - Exceeds general technical debt; often unchecked upfront; much costlier to fix later than baking in from start
- [00:09:00]: TV Remote Analogy - TV remote navigation parallels keyboard-only web browsing; relatable way to build empathy for these users
- [00:18:00]: Screen Reader User Diversity
- Benefits many beyond blind users - those with low vision, dyslexia,
cognitive issues, distractibility; many lack power user skills
- [00:35:53]: Manual Testing Importance - Value of manual accessibility checks, even quick tab review; catches issues automation misses; some manual testing critical
- [00:41:19]: Expanding Accessibility Knowledge - How to stay updated on best accessibility practices; constant learning curve even for experts
- [00:51:07]: Growing Accessibility Demand - Increased demand predicted as more jurisdictions tighten regulations; uptick in RFPs requiring accessibility
- [00:51:51]: Reach Out to Daryl
- Connect on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/darylsuttie for accessibility
questions, website audits, or to learn about his accessibility journey
- [00:53:07]: Accessibility Barriers Unintentional - Most accessibility barriers stem from lack of awareness rather than malice; still problematic and important to address
- [01:04:00]: Form Interactions and Accessibility
- Challenges with instant form submissions; separate actions for option
changes and form submission; avoid unexpected context shifts
- [01:10:27]: Neglect of HTML Fundamentals - Developers often lack HTML knowledge; over-reliance on CSS and JS; semantic HTML benefits accessibility
- [01:17:00]: Daryl's Journey into Accessibility - From early HTML dabbling to accessibility-focused roles; fueled by passion for inclusivity and better user experiences
- [01:36:33]: Business Case for Accessibility - Opportunities in serving untapped user segments; competitive advantage; sticky users; millions with disabilities
- [01:40:25]: Responding to Accessibility Pushback - Incremental improvements over perfection; celebrate small wins; 10% progress still meaningful; ratchet up gradually
- [01:44:41]: Keeping Up with Evolving Standards - Continuous learning essential; even experts encounter knowledge gaps; importance of referencing latest documentation
- [01:46:41]: Accessibility in B2B Contexts - Readiness to adapt if needed; quick wins possible with focused training; direct user feedback critical
- [01:49:00]: Rising Frequency of Accessibility Requests
- Increasing RFPs with accessibility requirements, especially in public
sector; accessibility gaining visibility across industries
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