Discover how to integrate accessibility into software design without compromising other priorities. Learn strategies for inclusive, effective development.

One area that is often missed by designers (not just in software) is that of color blindness. What many do not realize is that color blindness is quite common. The most common form of color blindness is the red-green variety. To a normal person, red and green are contrasting colors -- so to put green colored font on a red background seems reasonable. But not for color blind people who has the red-green variety of colorblindness. For certain hue-saturations, the foreground becomes indistinguishable from the background. I liked the approach taken by Trello: They have a setting for color blind people like me, where an additional pattern is placed on top of the UI element. It makes usage of the software so much better.

You're juggling multiple design priorities. How do you ensure accessibility features don't get left behind?

In software design, ensuring your product is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is not just an ethical imperative but also a legal and business necessity. Yet, amidst the rush of deadlines and the balancing act of various design priorities, accessibility features can sometimes be overlooked or pushed down the priority list. This article will guide you through strategies to keep accessibility at the forefront of your design process, ensuring that it is integrated into your product from the start and not treated as an afterthought.

1 Embrace Inclusivity

From the outset, adopt an inclusive mindset that views accessibility as a foundational aspect of quality software design. By recognizing that your user base is diverse and includes people with various disabilities, you're more likely to prioritize features that make your software usable by everyone. This involves understanding the different types of disabilities—visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor—and how they can affect interaction with software. When you design with all potential users in mind, you create a more robust, versatile product.

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Abubakar Riaz

Lead DevOps Azure @ tkxel 🚀| Full Stack Developer👨💻| Azure Certified 🏅| MCT 🏆| Microsoft for life📎|⚡️xJazz
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From the outset, adopt an inclusive mindset that values diverse perspectives, including feedback and criticism. Understand that rejection and criticism are part of the growth process. By viewing these experiences as opportunities to learn and improve, you create a more robust, versatile approach to your work. Acknowledge the different types of feedback—constructive, negative, or neutral—and use each to refine your skills and designs.

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2 Plan Strategically

Incorporate accessibility into your project timeline from day one. This means allocating specific periods for accessibility testing and remediation throughout the development cycle. By planning for accessibility, you ensure it becomes a non-negotiable part of your project milestones, just like any other critical feature. Use project management tools to track progress on accessibility issues, and treat them with the same urgency as other high-priority tasks to avoid them being sidelined.

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3 Design Universally

Universal Design principles are your ally in creating accessible software. These principles advocate for designing products that can be used by the widest range of people possible without the need for adaptation. By applying these guidelines, you can create interfaces that are intuitive for all users. For instance, ensuring that all functionalities are accessible via keyboard commands benefits not only users with motor disabilities but also those who prefer keyboard navigation.

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4 Test Continuously

Testing is crucial in catching accessibility issues early when they're easier to fix. Integrate accessibility testing into your regular quality assurance process. This could involve automated testing tools that scan for common accessibility problems and manual testing by individuals who have disabilities. Continuous testing allows for immediate feedback and iterative improvements, making sure accessibility considerations evolve alongside your product's design.

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5 Educate Teams

Educating your design and development teams about the importance of accessibility is essential. When everyone understands the impact of their work on users with disabilities, they're more likely to take ownership of accessibility. Offer training sessions on accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and encourage your team to think creatively about how to solve accessibility challenges. Knowledgeable teams are empowered teams that can advocate for and implement accessible design.

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6 Leverage Tools

Make use of the plethora of accessibility tools available to assist in designing inclusive software. These can range from color contrast analyzers to screen reader testing software. Tools not only help in identifying potential issues but also provide guidance on how to resolve them. Integrating these tools into your workflow ensures that checking for accessibility becomes a regular part of the design process, much like checking for bugs or performance issues.

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Abubakar Riaz

Lead DevOps Azure @ tkxel 🚀| Full Stack Developer👨💻| Azure Certified 🏅| MCT 🏆| Microsoft for life📎|⚡️xJazz
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Use tools and methodologies that facilitate feedback integration. Version control systems, project management software, and collaborative platforms like GitHub or Azure DevOps can help track changes and feedback. These tools ensure that all criticisms and suggestions are documented and can be addressed systematically.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Sabu Francis

Chief Architect: Sabu Francis & Associates. Founder at Limen Leap Labs and Syncspace. Mentor
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One area that is often missed by designers (not just in software) is that of color blindness. What many do not realize is that color blindness is quite common. The most common form of color blindness is the red-green variety. To a normal person, red and green are contrasting colors -- so to put green colored font on a red background seems reasonable. But not for color blind people who has the red-green variety of colorblindness. For certain hue-saturations, the foreground becomes indistinguishable from the background. I liked the approach taken by Trello: They have a setting for color blind people like me, where an additional pattern is placed on top of the UI element. It makes usage of the software so much better.

Like
Abubakar Riaz

Lead DevOps Azure @ tkxel 🚀| Full Stack Developer👨💻| Azure Certified 🏅| MCT 🏆| Microsoft for life📎|⚡️xJazz
Report contribution
Share personal stories or examples of how constructive criticism led to significant improvements in your projects. For instance, describe a situation where client feedback resulted in a better user interface or where peer reviews helped catch and fix critical bugs. Reflecting on these experiences can provide practical insights and reinforce the value of embracing feedback.

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You're juggling multiple design priorities. How do you ensure accessibility features don't get left behind?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Embrace Inclusivity

2 Plan Strategically

3 Design Universally

4 Test Continuously

5 Educate Teams

6 Leverage Tools

7 Here’s what else to consider

Software Design

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You're juggling multiple design priorities. How do you ensure accessibility features don't get left behind?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Embrace Inclusivity

2 Plan Strategically

3 Design Universally

4 Test Continuously

5 Educate Teams

6 Leverage Tools

7 Here’s what else to consider

Software Design

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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