LeadDev London 2022 Laveena Ramchandani

Here is the meta description: "Learn how to prioritize accessibility in digital product development, incorporating techniques, tools, and best practices to create inclusive and usable products for all users, including those with disabilities."

Key takeaways
  • Accessibility is a crucial aspect of digital product development, yet it’s often overlooked or treated as an afterthought.
  • The speaker’s experience with a blind fan’s struggle to use an inaccessible application led them to research and advocate for accessibility.
  • They highlight the importance of accessibility, citing statistics such as 20% of the working-age population having a disability, and 9 in 10 websites failing accessibility tests.
  • The speaker emphasizes the need to incorporate accessibility into the product development process, rather than leaving it until later.
  • They recommend using tools like Lighthouse, Wave, and Axe to automate accessibility checks, and involving teams in the process to ensure inclusivity.
  • The speaker shares personal anecdotes and lessons learned, such as the importance of communicating effectively and having buy-in from all stakeholders.
  • They encourage teams to start planning for accessibility early in the development process, to avoid costly rework and negative user experiences.
  • The speaker highlights the benefits of prioritizing accessibility, including improved user experiences, increased usability, and compliance with legal requirements.
  • They also emphasize the importance of involving users with disabilities in the design process to ensure that products meet their needs and are usable by everyone.
  • The speaker concludes by encouraging the audience to prioritize accessibility in their own work and to share their experiences and best practices with others.