September 2019 - Sheri Byrne-Haber's Blog

multiple ice cream cones with multiple flavors, colors and berries all around them

Accessibility and Usability

Tightly related but very independent UI/UX/CX concepts. Definitely NOT interchangeable. I saw a post on LinkedIn this week that said “you can’t have usability without accessibility.” However, it is my belief that the converse — “you can’t have accessibility without…

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Side-by-side HTML page mock ups, one with a black background the other with a white background

Dark UI themes are new and cool — but are they accessible?

Dark mode is one of those new, hot design features that is generating a lot of “buzz”. Apple and Slack, for example, have been pushing dark themed pages hard lately. However, it appears that not much thought has been given…

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Cartoon image of people designing video for a landscape mobile device — video recording/shooting/cutting, and directing

Accessibility and Motion

How to design the delightful user experience you want for your sighted / non-motion sensitive users, without triggering distraction, nausea and migraines in the rest of us “Moderation in all things is the best policy.” – Roman comic dramatist Plautus…

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Accessibility Abbreviations and Acronyms

So. Many. TLAs (Three Lettered Acronyms). This guide may help demystify some of it. ACA: Affordable Care Act or Accessible Canada Act depending on context. “The ACA must comply with the ADA not the ACA” is actually a legit sentence.…

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Two gearwheels turning with each other. One gearwheel is named Recruit, the other Retain.

Retaining employees with disabilities

The final part of the “employing people with disabilities” puzzle is creating an environment that supports their success Final part of a three-part article. Read part one (on recruiting) and part two (on policies) Attracting candidates with disabilities and having supportive policies solves just…

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Magnet “attracting” various cartoon characters of different genders and ethnicities

Policies that support employment of people with disabilities

Attracting candidates with disabilities is just one part of the complete “increasing representation of employees with disabilities” conundrum. Policies supporting PwDs is the next part Part 2 of a three-part article. Read Part 1 on policies impacting employees with disabilities and Part 3 (retaining…

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Magnet “attracting” various cartoon characters of different genders and ethnicities

Attracting candidates with disabilities

Finding qualified candidates with disabilities and giving them an opportunity to thrive and be successful is easier said than done. Part 1 of a three-part article. Read Part 2 (on employment policies related to people with disabilities and Part 3 (on retaining employees with…

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Groups that don’t care about people with disabilities

I can no longer support “disability as an afterthought” Authors note: Because of Medium’s refusal to address its accessibility issues for both authors and readers, I’ve moved my last three years of blogs to Substack. Please sign up there for notices of all…

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Making word clouds and polling fully accessible to all meeting attendees

If you want to be perceived as inclusive, you have to BE inclusive. Otherwise, your words and actions are merely performative. Let’s face it; Zoom meetings can be tedious. An entire business sector has popped up, focusing on making presentations…

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People with disabilities and sports

We want to be spectators. Many of us want to be or are, participants. So why is it that we face so many freaking barriers? As a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan for more than four decades and compound archery 2024 Paralympic…

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Applying Ted Lasso management lessons to accessibility

I am one of a jillion people anxiously awaiting season 3 of Ted Lasso. One of the reasons for its popularity is the life lessons it teaches on management and relationships through the lens of dramatic comedy (aka “dramady”). Here…

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When does a disability accommodation become a personal benefit?

A question that is currently winding its way through American courts Authors note: Because of Medium’s refusal to address its accessibility issues for both authors and readers, I’ve moved my last three years of blogs to Substack. Please sign up there for notices…

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Do internet-only businesses come under the Americans with Disabilities Act?

In theory, absolutely. But it’s taking federal courts a while to get there. Meanwhile, Web3 is coming, and blockchain is already here. Authors note: Because of Medium’s refusal to address its accessibility issues for both authors and readers, I’ve moved my last…

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Regaining your accessibility spark

All jobs have up and down cycles. Try these steps to get back on the upswing when you are on a down cycle in your accessibility journey. Authors note: Because of Medium’s refusal to address its accessibility issues for both authors…

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Why accessibility bugs are a good thing and how to handle them

Hint: “fix the bug” is probably the least important item on the list It is incredibly common when I do accessibility podcasts, I am asked, “what does accessibility success look like to you?” I, perhaps oddly, count beginning to get…

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Making PowerPoint decks more accessible

An essential component to maximizing remote participation by people with disabilities Part two of a two-part article. Part one focuses on how to optimize the video conference experience for the event. One of the lasting impacts of the pandemic is that business…

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Using plain language is essential for content accessibility

Using plain language is essential for content accessibility When writing for your audience, it’s essential to keep things simple at the lowest common denominator for your audience. If your audience is all Ph.D. candidates, language can be complex and require…

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