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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
ADA lawsuit costs are WAY more than just the settlement
When performing accessibility risk assessment, there are many costs you must include in your calculations in addition to plaintiff payouts Karl Groves wrote an amazing article this week on the ROI on Accessibility. This is a topic near and dear to my…
Even free software needs VPATs …
…If you want a Section 508-regulated organization to use it. Part 2 of a multi-part series on accessibility and open source software. Read Part 1 here. Accessibility Myth: Free software doesn’t require VPATs. VPATS are only required when software is purchased. Accessibility…
Having a VPAT is not the same thing as being accessible
Companies that view VPATs as a “checkbox” exercise frequently confuse the two. In reality, VPATs can be chock-full of exceptions that block people who use assistive technology from getting in the front door. I try to write thoughtful, sometimes geeky…
Accessibility and Open Source
Open Source projects can improve adoption and spread the “accessibility love” if they make their base code work for people with disabilities. Contributors can help. More and more companies are either consuming or producing open source software. However, very few…
Building a Robust Accessibility Program
VMware is building a new high-impact accessibility program for its customers with disabilities The number one reason why people with disabilities are frequently unable to use software is the failure of those that own and control the software or content…