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My sketchnotes from A11yCamp 2024

Here are my little sketchnotes from this year’s A11yCamp.

A few things that stood out to me:

  • Impairment is part of human diversity.
    • This made me think about Technoableism. It made me think about a framing that I like to use: it’s not about those disabled people over there, it’s about us humans over here.
  • The unspoken “… and we don’t want them as customers.”
    • I don’t think I’d thought about this particular angle / framing before. It’s a powerful framing, but needs to be carefully used.
  • Give context to numbers. Reframe to give meaning, impact.
  • Users don’t care about labels, they care if it works.
    • Truth!
  • Literacy, occupation, age, nationality impact needs, accessibility.
    • This made me think about the social model of disability and applying it more widely. Things that change needs, change accessibility.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide to Accessiblity

  • Digital accessibility means everyone can use technology equally.
  • Equal Access, Equal Opportunity.
  • Usability and Accessiblity go hand-in-hand.

Welcome address

  • Impairment is part of human diversity.
  • People use all kinds of assitive technology.

The many faces of digital accessibility

  • The career path after repeating the same thing over and over is like: a pot plant just starting to grow; a pot plant in full growth; a pot plant on fire; a pot plant in a puddle, just a burnt trunk.
  • We need people who keep focusing on the improvements and outcomes for humans.
  • The unspoken “… and we don’t want them as customers.”
  • If you’ve Shifted Left to Design, keep going! Research.
  • Lead by example.

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Accessiblity: the diamond of the season

  • Bridgerton characters who would benefit from digital accessibility.
  • Create content that interests you. Someone else will find it interesting too.
  • Give context to numbers. Reframe to give meaning, impact.

Design Rebels: rethinking the principles of design for better user experience

  • Universal, Equitable, Inclusive.
  • Users don’t care about labels, they care if it works.
  • Invisible Design disappears into the background.
  • Don’t get hung up on the framework.

Creating invslusive spaces: understanding the mental and emotional impacts of alcohol and drugs on digital experiences

  • Trauma impacts and attention and memory.
  • Intoxication impacts memory, executive function, physical function.
  • Care, Connect.

From the ground up: rebuilding ABC iView Android TV for all

  • Colour and Style.
  • Grouping labels and elements.
  • Focus management.

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Ubiquitous Accessibility

  • What we build, what we buy.
  • Literacy, occupation, age, nationality impact needs, accessibility.
  • Support Personalisation: e.g. tea, coffee, water?
  • Across the ecosystem, across the platforms.

A rules-based approach to designing accessible dark (and light) mode

  • Few good examples for inspiration.
  • Start from the middle and be consistent.

A false sense of accessibility: what automated tools are missing

  • Most automated tools test in a similar way.
  • Automated tools can find 20-30% of issues. Flip it! Automated tools can’t find 70-80% of issues!
  • Maybe 10-15% is more accurate.

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Holding Vendors accountable

  • What not to do: look for one person who can do everything.
  • Be clear on scope.
  • Craft a policy.
  • Start at the source: make sure the procuring team understand accessibility.
  • Changing minds takes time. Don’t give up.

Customer-informed accessibility in the CommBank app

  • Everyone has workarounds.
  • Especially when they don’t use (maybe don’t know about) assistive technology features (or native features).
  • Aim for “it just works”.