Whether you are managing a project, product, service, or technology team, you have responsibility for ensuring the technologies ultimately delivered are accessible to all users. There are many ways managers can help foster a culture of digital accessibility on their team.
Communicating the Value of Accessibility to Your Team
Strategic Goal
Identify accessibility as one of the strategic goals, include team in discussions of what it means and why it matters.
Risks and Costs
Provide examples of the risks of inaccessible technology:
- Lost users due to accessibility barriers
- Negative publicity and reputational damage
- Lawsuits and legal actions
- UGA’s obligations under Title II of the ADA
Your Peers Are Doing It
Point out that peers are creating accessible sites meeting accessibility criteria. Technical people are competitive, so point them to examples of well-designed accessible sites and demonstrate that accessibility is not a niche concern.
DIY Evaluations
Demonstrate simple methods that any team member can use to evaluate accessibility:
- Keyboard-only interaction testing
- Automated tests using resources from the accessibility testing tools page
Building Your Team’s Accessibility Knowledge
Learn
Many resources exist to help team members develop accessibility knowledge. UGA provides access to the Professional Education Portal (PEP) which has accessibility courses available.
Engage
Encourage involvement in the UGA digital accessibility community. Team members interested in leadership can join the UGA Digital Accessibility Champions initiative.
Apply
When designing or developing new interfaces, or selecting from code libraries, frameworks, and plugins, encourage team members to apply accessibility knowledge and evaluate components for accessibility.
Including Accessibility in Job Descriptions
Hiring knowledgeable staff brings new insights and skills to your team. Clearly state accessibility knowledge as an essential criterion in job descriptions.
Sample Language
Include language such as: “Knowledge of IT accessibility issues for users with disabilities; familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices; experience testing for accessibility; demonstrated ability to design and develop user interfaces that meet WCAG guidelines.”
Reference WCAG specifically rather than vague “accessibility standards.”
Interview Tips
- Ask open-ended questions requiring demonstration of accessibility knowledge
- Request work examples demonstrating good accessibility
- Ask candidates to demo an interface using keyboard-only navigation
- Include accessibility in design scenario requirements
- Listen for keywords: WCAG, ARIA, semantics
Incorporating Accessibility into All Stages of a Project
Plan
Clearly state accessibility as a primary goal in strategic planning documents.
Design
Explicitly plan accessible design implementation and evaluation procedures during the design phase.
Implement
Repeatedly evaluate accessibility compliance during development and implementation.
User Tests
Have products evaluated by people using various access methods (keyboard only, screen reader, color blind, etc.) as soon as functioning drafts exist. This provides critical feedback early in development.
Evaluate
Conduct systematic accessibility evaluation as a key part of QA near project completion.
Bug Fixes
Track accessibility fixes in production and evaluate each fix for potential accessibility impact.
Helping to Make the Case for Accessibility
Everyone Benefits
Solutions created for accessibility benefit everyone. Examples include automatic doors, text messaging, voice assistants, and curb cuts – features initially designed for people with disabilities now benefit all users.
Building Competence
Accessibility skills lead to better products overall, greater efficiency, and more flexible solutions.
Avoiding Costs and Embarrassment
Lawsuits are expensive and negative publicity damages reputation. UGA’s ADA Title II obligations make accessibility a legal requirement.
Teamwork
One inaccessible product reflects on the entire set of services and undermines overall user trust.
Creating an Inclusive Community
When products and services are accessible, users feel included and part of the community.
Getting help
If you have questions or need assistance, the Digital Accessibility Services Hub (DASH) is available to support colleges, schools, and administrative units as they build sustainable accessibility practices.
- Contact DASH at [email protected] for consultations, training, or technical assistance.
Accessibility is a shared responsibility, and every step you take makes UGA’s digital environment more inclusive.